Zendaya’s MJ has had her time to shine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I believe that Black Cat would be the ideal character to take over as Peter Parker’s love interest in Spider-Man 4. MJ has grown over Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy. The character started as a more closed-off person in Spider-Man: Homecoming, eventually opening up to Holland’s Peter Parker and Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds over the years. By 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, the trio became inseparable, with both Ned and MJ knowing about Peter’s secret and helping Spider-Man deal with multiverse villains.

Zendaya’s MJ and Holland’s Peter Parker developed a sweet romance in that time. Spider-Man: Homecoming teased something between the two at the end. Then Spider-Man: Far From Home was all about Peter trying to be with MJ and his life as Spider-Man getting in the way. That is a trait that I think is essential to Spider-Man stories, showing how the hero balances his secret and public lives. All Spider-Man movies have had a version of it, and after Spider-Man: No Way Home featured the couple together for the most part, Spider-Man 4 could go in a different direction.

Spider-Man: No Way Home Set Up The Chance For A New Love Interest

Zendaya’s MJ Could Be Sidelined For A Moment

If there is any time to explore a different love interest for Peter Parker again in the MCU, it is now. Spider-Man 4‘s story could include MJ in a minor role, teasing a possible rekindling of her romance with Peter down the line, but as things currently stand in the MCU, I would even prefer if Zendaya’s MJ was not present at all. She is a great character, but Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s ending set up a new status quo for the franchise that I believe would not be as impactful if MJ played a big role in Spider-Man 4.

At the end of Holland’s latest Spider-Man movie, Peter had to make a huge sacrifice. The only way for the hero to send all the multiverse characters who were about to come crashing into the MCU back to their universes was to ask Doctor Strange to use a spell that would make everyone forget who he was. I thought the decision was heartbreaking, but it was the kind of sacrifice that Spider-Man is all about, selflessly giving his happiness away if it means saving the world. Then, Peter would go on to make an even more heartbreaking choice.

When he told Ned and MJ that Doctor Strange’s spell was the only way for him to avert the multiverse characters from coming to Earth-616, Peter promised MJ that he would tell her everything and make her remember him. I fully expected that to be the case, with her possibly not believing him being the lead-up to Spider-Man 4, with Holland’s character trying to convince her of their past connection. However, the actual scene was shockingly sad, with Peter not telling MJ about their past after she forgot who he was, and so they went their separate ways.

I Think Black Cat Makes The Most Sense For Spider-Man 4

Felicia Hardy Is Perfect For Peter Parker’s Current Story

While I was shocked by Peter’s decision, it also made perfect sense for the character to take that path in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The reason he chose not to tell MJ about their past after having rehearsed how he would say it to her multiple times and entering the store she worked at fully intent on doing so was rather sweet. Upon seeing a band-aid on MJ’s forehead, Peter was reminded of all the danger he put her through due to being Spider-Man, and so he gave up on the love of his life to keep her safe.

Felicity Jones played a minor role as Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

I don’t think it would make sense for Spider-Man 4 to just walk back on that storyline, and due to that, I hope the movie gives Peter Parker a new love interest. Enter Black Cat, who I’m convinced is the ideal candidate to replace Zendaya’s MJ. With no loved ones and living alone in a small apartment, Peter should be spending more time out as Spider-Man. Black Cat is perfect for that setup. Unlike MJ, Felicia Hardy leads the same dangerous life that Spider-Man does, putting the two on the same page, as they could live double lives together.

I Want To See Sydney Sweeney Play The MCU’s Black Cat

The Actress Already Has Superhero Movie Experience

Sydney Sweeney has become the leading fancast to play Black Cat in the MCU. So far, no official comments have been made about the actress joining Spider-Man 4 or being cast as Felicia Hardy. That said, I’d love to see it happen. Like Zendaya and Holland, Sweeney has been one of the most popular rising stars in Hollywood over the past few years. The actress even shares the screen with Zendaya in HBO’s Euphoria. The drama series shows Sweeney’s range, with the actress making Cassie Howard a complex character who can be sweet and charming, but also violent and volatile.

Sweeney also has experience with a superhero franchise — and a Spider-Man-related one at that. The actress played Julia Cornwall in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe’s Madame Web. Her character was a lovable one who would develop spider powers in the future, which was teased at the end of Madame Web, with Sweeney donning a Spider-Woman costume. However, given the movie’s box office failure, a sequel is very unlikely. I think Sweeney could then be perfect for Black Cat in Spider-Man 4, using her dramatic acting skills, charisma, and superhero movie experience to deliver a well-rounded version of Felicia Hardy in live-action.

The actress said it would be cool to play Madame Web’s Julia Cornwall opposite Zendaya’s MJ in a Spider-Man film.

Despite the popularity of Sweeney’s name when it comes to Black Cat in live-action, the actress has never commented on playing Felicia Hardy. However, speaking to ComicBook.com, Sweeney addressed a possible role in a future Spider-Man movie. The actress said it would be cool to play Madame Web’s Julia Cornwall opposite Zendaya’s MJ in a Spider-Man film. While I can’t see that crossover ever happening, Sweeney playing Black Cat in the MCU’s Spider-Man 4 could lead to a return in future movies of the hero, which could culminate in a meeting between her and Zendaya’s MJ.

Will Black Cat Appear In The MCU’s Spider-Man 4?

A Casting Report Could Complicate Felicia’s MCU Debut

Spider-Man 4 is perfectly set up to include either Black Cat or another character as Peter’s new love interest. Now that he has finished high school, I could also see Gwen Stacy coming into his life, meeting Peter for the first time in college, like happened in the comics. However, I fear that none of them will serve as his love interest in the MCU movie, as a Spider-Man 4 casting report complicates things.

According to Deadline, Zendaya is working out a deal to return in Spider-Man 4. No details have been revealed about what kind of role MJ could play in the movie, but the report stated that Zendaya and Holland had been involved in Spider-Man 4‘s development process. As such, I have a hard time believing that if Zendaya came back to the MCU, MJ would just have a minor role. Sadly, it seems like my wishes for a street-level story that introduces Black Cat as Peter’s new love interest in Spider-Man 4 might not become a reality.