Black Cat Was The Movie Protagonist Sony's Spider-Man Uni...

It's Been 8 Years & Marvel Still Refuses To Make The Spider-Man Movie We Want

Tom Holland's Spider-Man poses on UK landmarks in Far From Home

By Nicolas Ayala Published 48 minutes ago Nicolas Ayala is a Senior Writer for the Comics team at ScreenRant, with over five years of experience writing about Superhero media, action movies, and TV shows. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe overlooked its most logical protagonist. The SSU was created to give Spider-Man's supporting characters their own solo movies, but the project struggled to justify their existence without the wall-crawler at the center. Apart from the successful Venom trilogy, Morbius and Kraven the Hunter failed to stand out within the superhero genre.

The experiment itself had real potential, however. Spider-Man’s world is filled with characters capable of starring in their own movies. In the right hands, several Spider-Man-related characters could have become breakout stars of their own franchise. Sony needed a character audiences could root for while still loving their criminality, and Black Cat fits that mold better than almost anyone. Had the SSU embraced her, Felicia Hardy could have become its flagship hero.

Black Cat Was The Perfect Character For Sony's Spider-Man Universe

Black Cat Encapsulates Everything Sony's Spider-Man Universe Was Looking For

Spider-Man fights Black Cat surrounded by fire in Marvel Comics

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was built on the idea of giving Spider-Man's villains their own solo movies that didn’t require Spider-Man to appear, but where his existence remained an ever-present possibility. The franchise turned villains into anti-heroes, and it opened the possibility for sequels and crossovers. Hence, it's quite strange that Black Cat never made it to the big screen.

Felicia Hardy operates independently in New York, and she shines bright on her own even when her world doesn't overlap with Spider-Man's. Kraven the Hunter and Morbius had to be reworked heavily in order to function as protagonists, but Felicia Hardy already walks the line between criminal and hero. Within that framework, a movie exploring Black Cat's career as a master thief, vigilante, or mercenary would have felt effortless.

Black Cat is arguably the most natural anti-hero Sony could have chosen. Coming off the back of Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel’s success, a female-led comic-book film centered on Felicia Hardy could have easily thrived in the market. Just as Venom became a full-blown anti-hero across his trilogy, Black Cat could have done the same. After her first movie, Felicia could have earned her own supporting cast, her own rogues, and eventually her own version of Spider-Man drama.

Black Cat Deserves A Live-Action Adaptation

Black Cat Is One Of The Biggest Marvel Characters Without A Significant Live-Action Appearance

Felicia Hardy plays with her hair in an alley in Black Cat comic cover

Black Cat is a morally gray thief with a heart, a code, and a complex romantic dynamic with Spider-Man. Unlike many classic villains, Felicia Hardy doesn’t exist to torment Spider-Man, but challenges him and forces him to question his ideals. A movie or co-starring role could showcase her irresistible charisma, with the stylish crime-thriller flourish that she naturally brings to the table.

Felicia Hardy has thrived beyond being a love interest or side character in the comics. Black Cat's recent solo run elevated her into a full-fledged leading hero, always tied to Spider-Man's mythos and Marvel's street-level corner but capable of carrying multiple stories on her own. Even if she had to share the spotlight with someone else, Felicia would likely steal the show in live-action.

Black Cat’s popularity has surged thanks to major roles outside traditional Spider-Man stories, including her brief stint in an outer space heist during Jed MacKay’s Avengers run and her involvement in Sinister's Six during the Age of Revelation. These stories prove she can thrive outside New York and without relying on Spider-Man as a narrative crutch. Adapted well, Black Cat could be portrayed as a cross between action heroine and master thief, which would offer something quite fresh in the modern superhero landscape.

It's Not Too Late For Tom Holland's Spider-Man To Meet Black Cat

Spider-Man's Current Status Makes Black Cat's Debut Likely

Peter Parker and Black Cat smile while hugging in a photo held by Felicia Hardy in Spider-Man comic cover

Tom Holland’s Peter Parker may not be meeting Black Cat in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but the door is still open for Felicia Hardy's MCU debut. By the time Spider-Man 5 rolls around, Peter will likely still be struggling to reconnect with MJ while maintaining a more mature, lonely, street-level lifestyle. This is exactly the point in Spider-Man’s life when Black Cat has historically appeared, being a morally complicated foil who challenges Peter's double life.

Following Spider-Man: No Way Home's promise of a more grounded Spider-Man, Black Cat could arrive as someone fascinated with Spider-Man's Friendly Neighborhood vigilantism but uninterested in Peter Parker. Felicia often tempts Peter to live as Spider-Man full-time and embrace the thrilling lifestyle of rooftop nights and unsanctioned crime-fighting. This tension could push Holland’s Peter toward character-defining questions about his dual identity.

Even after Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Secret Wars, Peter might inhabit the perfect environment for street-level supporting characters like Black Cat. With Daredevil, Kingpin, and Echo active in the MCU, the stage is already set for Spider-Man to operate in darker corners of New York. Felicia Hardy could fit seamlessly into these stories. And if the MCU requires her to do something more, Black Cat likely wouldn't hesitate to jump into full-fledged superheroism.

Spider-Man Created By Stan Lee, Steve Ditko First Appearance Amazing Fantasy Alias Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner Alliance Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors Race Human Franchise Marvel, Spider-Man

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