By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Preference Center
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary CookiesAlways Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services,
such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.
You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance
of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move
around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.
If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be
able to monitor its performance.
Functional Cookies
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and
personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose
services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies
then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners.
They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you
relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information,
but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not
allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
With the release of the trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home, we have a much better idea of what this movie’s all about, even if we don’t know how the heck everyone is alive again (your move, Avengers: Endgame). Going by what we’ve seen, this Spider-Man movie has several villains. We have Mysterio, and what appears to be Molten Man, Hydro-Man, and possibly a new version of Sandman (though they could all be Elementals).But we think the trailer is hiding one more classic Spider-Man baddie in plain sight: the Chameleon. If we’re right, it means massive spoilers are ahead, so you might want to stop reading now if that’s not your thing. Here’s why we think he’s Far From Home’s stealth villain.
Who Is The Chameleon?
Most of Spider-Man’s major villains have appeared in live-action since Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man, but there is one major omission: the Chameleon, who has the honor of being the very first super-villain Peter Parker ever fought way back in Amazing Spider-Man #1. Chameleon is really Dmitri Smerdyakov, half-brother of Kraven the Hunter and a Russian-born master of disguise. Originally, he had no powers, but was instead incredibly adept at disguising himself as almost anyone.Over the years, however, he’s injected himself with different formulas to allow him to mold his facial features into any person of his choosing. He even used holographic projections to create his disguises and change his look by merely pressing a button. Once a KGB agent, Dmitri then fled to the United States to begin his life as a career criminal.We are almost positive that Chameleon is in Far From Home, as an actor named Numan Acar is in the cast list as a mysterious character named Dimitri. But we think Dimitri’s true appearance as the Chameleon will be a reveal towards the end of the third act. We think he’s posing as another major character first.
Nick Fury = The Chameleon
Because Dmitri Smerdyakov began his life as a Russian asset, it makes sense that he would be operating in Europe first in the MCU. And Europe is exactly where we find Spidey in Far From Home. What if Chameleon is impersonating Nick Fury? We see Fury, a.k.a. the MCU’s ultimate badass, in the trailer, but we don’t think it’s really Fury.
For one thing, his wardrobe is giving him away. He’s wearing the same long black trench coat he wore in the first Avengers movie and Iron Man 2–the one he wore when he was the director of SHIELD. But remember, Fury has not been an official SHIELD agent since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He faked his death and went underground, and in his appearances since then, he’s often ditched the old trench coat look for something more discreet.But someone impersonating Fury would likely adhere to the spy’s more well-known looks, and if the general public even knows who Fury is, it would be due to his involvement with the battle of New York–when he had the trench coat look. In the trailer, Samuel L. Jackson almost appears to Peter Parker like a parody version of how he first appeared to Tony Stark at the end of the original Iron Man. Almost like a “Cliff’s Notes” version of Fury.Now, you might be thinking, “But couldn’t he be a Skrull?” Sure, he could be. But I think the Spider-Man solo films are going to shy away from the cosmic stuff, as the comics mostly have. Whatever big Skrull subplot is happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we think Spidey’s movies won’t touch on it much. We do think the actual Nick Fury will turn up in Far From Home, but that Fury in the trailer? He’s the Chameleon.
Images: Marvel Studios / Marvel Comics / Sony / Warner Brothers