8 Spider-Man Villains For Bruce Campbell

Venom

True, the outer space symbiote wasn't exactly treated well by Raimi in Spider-Man 3, leading to many fans figuring that he shouldn't even try. But there's plenty of life left in the black goo yet.

Let's face it - the idea of an extraterrestrial creature possessing ordinary people and turning them into toothy, slavering, super-powered monster-men - is too cool to give up.

The Bruce Factor: Here's our idea. If some of the symbiote survived the titanic final clash in the third film, it could possibly find its way on to the head of a struggling B-movie thesp who becomes the latest evil incarnation to trouble Spidey.

Hell, we'd be happy if Campbell's Snooty Usher character from the second film got Venom-ised - to watch a battle between the usher's pompous pout and the alien's snarling visage would give him all the OTT time he needs.

Kraven The Hunter

The nutcase big game hunter who decides that everyone's favourite web-slinger is his ultimate target, Kraven uses a serum to boost his strength and give him super-agility.

He's also known for his wacky leopard print pants and lion-head jacket.

The Bruce Factor: True, Bruce would need to hit the gym before he takes the role - though he's proved he can still kick some arse on TV's Burn notice, he's not exactly the toned, muscular type Kraven appears as in the comics.

But just look at the man - with the bristling moustache and wild hunter's gleam in his eye… Can't you just see the man who played Ash enjoying the hell out of the role?

Electro

Electro's got the sort of damaged history that Sam Raimi can't get enough of in his films.

And the character of Maxwell Dillon, who decided to use the powers he gained from a freak lightning accident for criminal purposes, would provide a hefty SFX spectacle to give the new outing some kick.

The Bruce Factor: While we're not quite so sure that the moody, awkward, bitter Dillon is the ideal role for a man of BC's swaggering charisma, we still think he could pull it off.

And once he's fully powered up, the prospect of Campbell slinging electrical bolts at Tobey Maguire just makes us smile.

Mysterio

Mysterio has been one of the more requested and rumoured villains yet to pop up in the franchise.

We bet Raimi would plump for his original incarnation, former movie special effects wizard and stuntman who decides to channel his talents into life as a supervillain. At one point in the comic's run he even convinces Peter Parker that he's six inches tall using hypnosis. Could be a surreal moment…

The Bruce Factor: Garrulous movie stunt bloke? Surely there's no one better suited to the role. Again, he'd need to get into shape, but Raimi is long on record as loving abusing Campbell on camera, so he'll put him through hell.

For the good of the movie, of course…

Chameleon

Another classic villain to consider. So classic, in fact, that he's listed as the first major villain that Parker battles in the comics.

Russian-born Dmitri Smerdyakov (Stan Lee really reaching for a Ruskie name there) got his start as a servant to Kraven The Hunter, but was fighting with the web-warrior before his old master. With his ability to mimic any human face, he's a great choice for a role that could be played by several actors.

The Bruce Factor: He might not want to hide his famous chin behind a CG mask, nor share the part with others, but Bruce let loose with makeup and madness? Bring, It. On.

Hammerhead

One of the nattiest-dressed villains in Spider-Man history, this 1920s gangster throwback sports a suit and a bad attitude.

Rising to the top of his crime organisation (the Maggia), Hammerhead is a solid - in more ways than one, since his skull has been strengthened with an unbreakable metal - bad guy for Raimi to re-imagine, and a stylish one at that.

The Bruce Factor: Campbell has all the flair needed to put on a Public Enemies-level suit and strut it with the best of them.

Plus he wouldn't need much make-up to portray the man - he's got the forehead and the chin in place already.

Rhino

There have been few brute-force baddies in Raimi's take on the Marvel legend. Rhino might just be the horn up the arse the franchise needs.

He's not exactly the deepest of villains, but what he lacks in real backstory he makes up for with audience-pleasing mayhem.

The Bruce Factor: If Rhino ever does hit the screen, he may be played by the sort of bruiser more used to grunting evildoers (Vinnie Jones, say).

But Campbell could bring so much more to it - he's got the bulk and he could also make the horned one just a little more fun than a simple engine of destruction.

A little CG help, and it's all good.

Ash

What's that you say? He's not a Marvel villain? That might be right, but he's certainly been in comics - and Ash even battled un undead Spidey in the Marvel Zombies series.

Wouldn't most Raimi fans kill to see him introduce one of his most beloved characters as a weird cross-over moment? If only Sony would approve the idea…

The Bruce Factor: Bruce IS Ash. Always has been, always will be, no matter what pretenders to the chainsaw throne might wander up in any remake of the original Evil Dead.

Picture it: Ash, sent mad by his travels through time and his many entanglements with Deadites, arrives via a portal in Manhattan. The source for his frustration - super-powered types. His first target? A wall-crawler...