It feels good to connect with newer comic book characters, especially the bad guys, getting to see how they can change the game and challenge our heroes in different ways. Okay, 2007 isn’t quite “new,” but it kind of is for this industry. Mister Negative is one of my favorite modern Marvel antagonists, and I have enjoyed seeing him flourish on the page and in the recent Insomniac Spider-Man games. The dual personalities of Martin Li make for engaging interactions, and the visuals behind his powers look fantastic in motion. Now that the character is rumored to appear in the upcoming Spider-Man 4 film, it’s time to find the actor who can best bring this charismatic villain to life in Brand New Day.
Several names have been thrown around for potential candidates, a few of them with backing from the fans, but it looks as if there are several quality options out there. This is our look at a few of the popular choices that might be able to pull it off.
Who could play Mister Negative in Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day?
Stephen Oyoung
To get what might be the most obvious name out of the way first, we have to acknowledge Stephen Oyoung, who has already played the character of Mister Negative in two popular video games and bestowed quite a performance upon the fans. Oyoung made it clear that he wants to take on the role of the gangster again, helping to bring the character of Martin Li to life on the big screen, and many of the fans are with him on this. Sadly, though some video game actors have reprised those roles in their live-action adaptations, it’s rare and seems like a longer shot with Disney involved. It might save them some money, however, as Oyoung is skilled in martial arts and has worked as a fight coordinator, providing them with an actor who could do most of his own stunts.
The only other problem some shareholders might have about hiring Oyoung is that he’s done a lot of video game work, which is what most know him for, but he may not be a big enough name in the movie industry. That’s something companies seem to hold in high regard these days, and though he’s had roles in recent big films like Twisters and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, it’s hard to imagine that would be enough to guarantee his spot against Spidey in Spider-Man 4.
Daniel Dae Kim
A lot of people know this actor from his amazing run on Lost – even for those that didn’t like the show, his character stands out – but I always appreciate Kim for bringing one of my favorite video game characters to life, Johnny Gat from the Saints Row series. Daniel Dae Kim’s resume has many more notable roles on it, and he has a little of that star power and name recognition the producers may be looking for, but the seasoned actor is just outside of the age range as well.
We’re told the new film was looking to cast someone between 30-50 years of age, and Kim is currently 56, likely 57 (his birthday is in August), around the time filming will be completed. This doesn’t seem like an issue for most, as Hollywood often allows for actors to skew older, but if they want someone who could play the role in multiple films, age could be an issue. I’d still love to see this happen, as would a lot of other fans, because Kim certainly has the ability and charisma to pull the part off in Brand New Day.
Steven Yeun
Another name that a lot of people recognize is Steven Yeun, whether it’s from his voice work with hit shows like Invincible and Voltron: Legendary Defender, or the role he played in that little show called The Walking Dead, the actor has made quite a splash and doesn’t show signs of slowing down. He recently appeared in Mickey 17 playing a charismatic antagonist, so it isn’t hard to imagine him slipping into a more corrupting demon-like persona. Yeun also has the advantage of his name having come up alongside that of Mister Negative in online discussions, even before fans believed the character would appear in Brand New Day, with the pair seeming like a perfect fit (especially after Yeun missed out on playing Sentry in Thunderbolts*).
As an aside, Yeun holds a degree in Psychology, and I can’t help but think that might give him an advantage in breaking down the dual nature of the villain, giving him a slight edge over other actors wanting the spot.
John Cho
John Cho has been in the game for quite some time, doing his part to make advancements for Asian actors and breaking barriers, so a sympathetic villain with such a heavy Eastern aesthetic might be a solid role for him. He’s right outside of the age range as well (turning 53 this month), but viewing audiences seem to love him whether he’s doing sci-fi with roles in Star Trek and Cowboy Bebop or more offbeat comedies like The Afterparty, American Dad, or Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
With him being so likable, I can’t imagine he’d have any problem playing the Martin Li persona, but can he pull off the character’s darker side? We saw him play at being evil in shows like Sleepy Hollow, but this type of role might be asking a bit more of him. If Cho can tap into his own inner demon, however, we could see an excellent turn when his true nature is revealed in Spider-Man 4.
Andrew Koji
He may seem like the underdog out of the bunch, but Andrew Koji is showing that he can handle the work and stress of being in big projects, looking ready to tackle more franchises. The half-British, half-Japanese actor impressed many people on the small screen with Warrior before taking on roles in films like Snake Eyes, Boy Kills World, and Bullet Train. Koji is the youngest of our candidates (37) and seems dedicated to his craft and achieving more, having moved to Thailand to train in martial arts at the age of 18.
Koji also has some stunt work under his belt that could benefit the production, and is equipped to handle the character’s love of swordplay. It feels like Koji could nail the intensity of Mister Negative’s corruption and anger in Spider-Man 4, but could he get Martin Li right as well?
Donnie Yen
Another superstar that could potentially step up is Donnie Yen, a man who has brought so much to the industry and his craft that he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2019. Yen has had quite a career, having worked on classics like Iron Monkey and The Kung Fu Master, but he’s known more recently for his IP Man series. He starred in American productions such as Blade 2 and Highlander: Endgame, with his skills shown off in more recent work like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and John Wick 4.
Yen has had a storied career, and there is plenty of evidence that he could bring something special to the fight scenes, as someone who likes to incorporate MMA and other styles into his action, but he’s also the oldest actor we’ve mentioned for the role as well. He’d be 62 by the time they filmed. Is that enough of a reason to pass up such a huge talent, though? If we’re talking details, it may also be worth pointing out that the character of Mister Negative is Chinese, putting a small extra plus in Yen’s favor, being from Hong Kong, assuming he’d be willing to play a villain that embraced his “inner demon” in such a way that Brand New Day requires.
