Kraven the Hunter is now in theaters, and the Marvel Universe film features several compelling villains, with Christopher Abbott's The Foreigner being someone I'd like to see more of. While one Kraven 2 doesn't seem likely, It's worth remembering how big the universe of Spider-Man characters is and the different places where they can occur. Even with the Sony Universe about to end, everything within the Spider-Verse seems to be connected, and I would love to see the Alien get the chance to face off against Spider-Man himself.
Among the biggest Kraven spoilers are the final fate of many of the film's villains. With several deaths and questions about Spider-Man's appearances, the film sets up a lot during its run. The entire universe of Marvel characters grew a lot with the film, as it featured Calypso, Chameleon, Rhino, and more. Still, with his unusual powers and lesser-known history in the comics, I was excited to see The Stranger realized on the movie screen, and I'd love to see him again somewhere.
The Alien's Powers in Kraven the Hunter Explained
Alien has unique hypnotic abilities
In Kraven the HunterThe Foreigner is hired by Aleksei Sytsevich, The Rhinoceros, to kill The Hunter. The Stranger goes after Kraven, at which point his powers are revealed without much explanation. The Stranger possesses incredible psionic powers that allow him to freeze the way the people he fights experience time. This disorienting power leaves your opponents defenseless for several seconds while they recover from the experience, even trying to figure out where and when they are.
This power, which is rooted in a type of hypnotism, is seen in Marvel Comics. Despite not having superhuman strength or senses, The Stranger manages to appear as if he is moving at superhuman speed by messing with the perception of those he fights. He is even capable of hypnotizing Spider-Man for up to ten seconds. These unusual powers were put to good use in Kraven the Hunter even if they aren't explained in detail, and it would be great to see them examined in more detail in future films.
I want to see the alien fight Spider-Man after Kraven the Hunter
It would be fun to see an alien's unique powers clash with Peter Parker
While the end of Kraven the Hunter shows that The Stranger has been killed, I can't help but want to see him face off against Spider-Man. The Alien almost overpowers Kraven in the film, and therefore he certainly has a high enough skill level to take on Peter Parker. Seeing how the Alien's powers could mess with Spider-Man's Spider-Sense would make for an incredible combat sequence that would be similar to Mysterio's powers in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
A Mercenary, Foreigner faced off against Spider-Man in the comics, but also tried to recruit him to be an assassin. The character has a complex moral code, and much of his work and efforts are as a hit man. The Alien played an interesting role in the Spider-Man universe, facing off against heroes and villains. He also fought Spider-Man to the point where they each had to draw.
How the Alien Could Return Despite His Death in Kraven the Hunter
There are several Marvel options for the alien to return
While Sony's villain universe may be coming to an end, Spider-Verse continues to receive updates, and Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4 is filming soon. As both universes continue to expand, they will be expected to use lesser-known villains in their stories. The version of The Foreigner played by Christopher Abbott could easily be brought back in any of these projects using the multiverse. However, the ability to do so also suggests that there are other opportunities for The Outsider.
A reworked version of the hero in the MCU or Spider-Verse is a distinct possibility that would also work. Although Abbott is a rising star and his performance as the villain was effective, it wasn't so definitive that another actor couldn't play the role. Either way, I want to see more of the Alien in the different Spider-Man projects. With an unusual skill set, incredible powers, and a brand of villainy-for-hire that feels more like the Punisher than your typical Spider-Man villain, The Stranger could be an important piece for the future of Spider-Man stories.
It is not yet known whether The Foreigner will be seen again in Spider-Man projects. In the end, many of Spider-Man's highest priority villains, including Black Cat and Hobgoblin, have yet to receive a full big screen appearance. However, it seems that many of these projects know how to balance the use of popular and practically unknown characters. While Kraven the Hunter was the first time we saw The Foreigner, I can't help but think it might not be the last time we see it.
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- Release date
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February 14, 2025
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Rays*
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- Release date
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July 25, 2025
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- Release date
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July 24, 2026