Spider-Man has one of the best supporting casts in the history of comic books, with a dynamic rogue’s gallery, lovable allies, and a truly staggering number of engaging love interests. But, only one character has managed to bridge the gap and fill each of those roles with style.
Felicia Hardy, AKA Black Cat was created by Marv Wolfman in 1979, where she appeared as a femme fatale style villain. Hardy was the daughter of a notorious criminal who, after a traumatic assault,donned a killer costumeand turned to a life of crime with the intent of freeing her father from prison. In that pursuit, she met Spider-Man, with whom she developed a complicated relationship that has spanned years. As Black Cat, she gained the ability to cause bad luck to her enemies but later replaced those powers with more traditional super-strength, speed, and razor-sharp claws.
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Black Cat and Spider-Man have fallen in and out of love a dozen times, just as often fighting together as against one another. The instability of their relationship is electric, keeping the character engaging in every appearance. Black Cat has appeared ina number of video gamesand cartoons, but her presence in the films may as well be nonexistent. A character named Felicia Hardy did appear inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, though largely unlike the source and never seen in alter-ego. The MCU could be the first official debut of Black Cat.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Perhaps the biggest actress in the world at the moment, Taylor-Joy would be an attention-grabbing choice for the MCU. The MCU Spider-Man films are already heavily star-studded affairs, with internet darlingsTom Holland and Zendayafilling the main roles, and Taylor-Joy would only add to that source of fervor. As a performer, Taylor-Joy is incredibly powerful and wildly versatile. From the chess prodigy inThe Queens Gambitto a charismatic dynamo inLast Night in Soho. She even starred in a Marvel movie, but unfortunately, that film was the ill-fatedNew Mutants, so she deserves a clean slate. Engaging, complex, powerful, multi-talented, Anya Taylor-Joy is a dominating performer who can make Black Cat the spellbinding character she needs to be. Black Cat should be jaw-dropping, commanding the screen each time she takes it, andAnya Taylor-Joy can make that happen.
Elizabeth Gillies
Best known for her supporting role in the bizarre children’s seriesVictorious, Elizabeth Gillies has been a performer for over 13 years. Currently, she stars as Fallon Carrington on the long-running CW seriesDynasty, as well as in a variety of films. Gillies has a presence that is at once intimidating and alluring, an absolute must for the role of Felicia Hardy.
This choice is so obvious, it’s almost been done before. The single character most comparable to Black Cat is DC’s Catwoman, and as of this August, Gillies was cast as the voice of that character in aDC Animated film setto release in early 2022. She’s obviously a great choice, but she could work even better on-screen. Black Cat would give Gillies an opportunity to show off in a huge role and to earn a fan-favorite role in a huge franchise.
Naomi Scott
An English singer and actress, Scott has performed in a handful of fun roles in kids content. The most relevant role of hers came in2017’sPower Rangersfilm, in which she portrayed Kim Hart, the Pink Ranger. Scott brought some new pathos to a character who was previously derided as a bit of a generic token female, offering a solid performance in an otherwise uninspired film.
Scott also occupied the thankless role of Elena Houghlin, one of the Angels in 2019’sCharlie’s Angelsremake, where she again stood out as a diamond in the rough. A shot at the role of Black Cat may finally give her the chance to play a powerful character in a film that she doesn’t have to carry all on her own. Scott’s natural charisma and strong character work would make her interplaywith Tom Holland’s Spider-Manelectric on-screen.
Emma Mackey
This actress seems to be heading for a big career, with big roles in upcoming films likeKenneth Branagh’sDeath on the Nileand Frances O’Connor’sEmily. Mackey’s claim to fame at the moment is her iconic role of Maeve in Netflix seriesSex Education, where she has become a fan-favorite. Maeve as an anti-hero is perhaps the easiest road to a solid modern take on Black Cat.
Mackey brings an intelligent, alluring, complex, and incisive character to the smartly written series, and a big role in a franchise as huge as Spider-Man could be a big break for her. Mackey is a fantastic up and coming performer and it would be great to see Marvel capitalize on that untapped well of talent.
Cara Delevingne
Model, singer, and actress,Delevingne is an extremely likableand talented performer. Starring in projects likeValerian and the City of a Thousand PlanetsandCarnival Row, much of her strength comes through pure charisma. Delevingne has not fronted a ton of action scenes, but her dynamic personality and force of will can carry off intimidation just as well as infatuation. She conveys tension so well through expression and body language that the character would be iconic before she gets her first line. Delevigne would bring Black Cat to the screen in a way that would make the character unforgettable from the first frame.
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