Warning: Contains Spoilers for All-New Venom #5!

Marvel Comics just provided the perfect replacement for Spider-Man franchise star the opportunity to make a super-powered cameo in the MCU. After Spider-Man: No Way Home brought Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield back into the fold, along with a few of their iconic villains, fans eagerly awaited the return of their beloved love interests. With Venom's development now in play, it's the perfect time for Kirsten Dunst to make an action-packed comeback.

Marvel spoiled All-New Venom #5–written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gómez–in advance, revealing that Mary Jane Watson would be the symbiote’s host in its latest golden era. Although Screen Rant did manage to guess the revelation after the series’ first issue, it’s a shocking new role for MJ’s character and the Venom franchise moving forward.

If she's interested, All-New Venom offers the perfect opportunity for Kirsten Dunst to make a Venomized return to the Marvel Universe. While it would be a bold and unexpected way for her MJ to reappear, Dunst would absolutely be capable of pulling it off.

Kirsten Dunst (or Zendaya) Could Make a Spider-Man Franchise Comeback as the MCU's All-New Venom

All-New Venom #5 – Written by Al Ewing; Art by Carlos Gómez; Colors by Frank D’Armata; Lettering by VC’s Clayton Cowles

As one of the standout elements of Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man trilogy, many fans are still hoping for Kirsten Dunst to make an appearance before the MCU’s Multiverse Saga wraps up. With All-New Venom transforming Mary Jane into the symbiote’s latest host, Dunst could deliver either a hilarious or thrilling cameo as MJ gains new symbiote powers. While MJ’s version of Venom is still evolving in the comics, the series has kept a lighthearted tone—perfectly suited to Dunst’s comedic talents, as showcased in films like Bring It On and Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Zendaya is Marvel’s current MJ in the MCU, and with endless multiverse possibilities, there’s even a chance that she could get the venom treatment. However, since it’s likely that MJ won’t keep the symbiote long-term in the comics, an All-New Venom reference in the movies may be a better opportunity for Dunst to make her long-awaited cameo. Hot off of Civil War and The Power of the Dog, a turn as Venom may seem a little low-brow for the acclaimed actor, but if Marvel pays her what she deserves, Dunst could turn in another incredible performance as MJ’s Venom.

Marvel Should Give MJ Superpowers as Venom, Not Jackpot

Is Asking for Emma Stone’s Spider-Gwen Too Much?

It’s been possible for Mary Jane to make a super-powered comeback to the movies for years now, but Venom might be the best opportunity yet. Mary Jane officially became the superhero Jackpot, a character inspired by her iconic line to Peter Parker: “Face it, tiger… you just hit the jackpot.” However, despite a pretty cool costume design, Jackpot never really took off in the comics, and MJ’s new take on Venom would likely be the better option if the character were to make a superhero debut in the MCU.

Spider-Man’s cinematic love interests haven’t always had much fighting to do in their films. Still, Marvel Comics has recently introduced many different ways for them to become action heroes in their own right. Dunst or Zendaya could take on either the Jackpot role or the All-New Venom symbiote powers, and even Gwen Stacy is an established superhero now as Spider-Gwen, a choice that’s rumored to have been influenced by Emma Stone’s popularity in The Amazing Spider-Man films. Along with a possible Dunst Venom, Gwen is going through her own changes that could be the basis for Stone’s potential MCU debut.

Kirsten Dunst Played the Perfect MJ, and We Need to See Her Take on the Character’s Venom Era

It’s a Brand New Day for Mary Jane Watson as a Superhero

While the movies may have been mostly concerned with Spider-Man’s high-flying adventures against the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and more, Kirsten Dunst helped keep the character of Mary Jane interesting enough to make audiences just as invested in her as Peter Parker. Since she played the character so perfectly, Dunst deserves to bring MJ’s entire story to life if she’d like to, including this new Venom development. There are so many options for a potential cinematic return, including a more traditional role based on the current Ultimate Spider-Man comics, but her symbiote adventures would truly be something to behold.

The All-New Venom comics are just about to explain how MJ bonded with the symbiote, with the duo having a complicated history. Dunst’s character even had her own trouble dealing with the symbiote in Spider-Man 3, and there could still be an interesting and dramatic story to tell if they wanted to really do something with the character beyond a cameo. Regardless, the Spider-Man movies need to bring Kirsten Dunst back into the fold in some way if they can afford her, and Mary Jane’s Venom transformation in the comics might be the best option for an exciting MCU debut.

All-New Venom #5 will be available on April 2, 2025, from Marvel Comics.