SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Casts INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE and BLACK LIGHTNING Star as Tombstone
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has added another villain to its lineup. Marvin Jones III, known for voicing Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and playing Tobias Whale in Black Lightning, is stepping into the live-action role of the sinister villain.
This news comes as production temporarily hit pause following Tom Holland’s on-set concussion during a stunt sequence. Despite the delay, casting continues to move forward, and bringing Jones into the fold is a major win for the project.
According to Deadline, the actor will also reprise his voice role in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Interestingly, Sony had originally eyed him to play Tombstone in the scrapped El Muerto film starring Bad Bunny, so this feels like it’s been a long time coming.
Created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk, Lonnie Thompson Lincoln, aka Tombstone, first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #36 back in 1988. Born in Harlem and living with albinism, he endured years of bullying before embracing a life of crime.
After exposure to a chemical compound, he developed enhanced strength, durability, and resistance to pain, becoming one of Spider-Man’s most ruthless enemies.
With his chalk-white skin, sharpened teeth, and towering build, Tombstone is an intimidating figure both as a hitman and a crime lord. Over the years he’s battled not just Spider-Man but also Daredevil, while maintaining a long-running rivalry with childhood friend Joe “Robbie” Robertson.
More recently, Tombstone has been gunning for control of New York’s underworld as its new Kingpin of Crime. His daughter, Janice Lincoln, also carries on his legacy as the Beetle.
Jones is no stranger to villainous roles. Aside from voicing Tombstone in animation, he gained recognition for his chilling turn as Tobias Whale in Black Lightning. He recently appeared alongside Kerry Washington in Joe Carnahan’s Shadow Force and has credits in Halo, All American: Homecoming, The Equalizer, and Criminal.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), the film is written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Holland leads a stacked cast that includes Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, and Liza Colón-Zayas. Thunderbolts star Florence Pugh is also rumored to appear.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, 2026.