Actor/rapper Marvin Jones III has been tapped to play crime boss Tombstone in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This article details his career, the significance of his role, and fan reactions.
Los Angeles-based actor/rapper Marvin Jones III (stage name Krondon) has been cast as New York mobster Lonnie “Tombstone” Lincoln in Marvel Studios’ upcoming film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Deadline broke the news on Sept. 23, 2025. Jones, known for playing Tobias Whale on CW’s Black Lightning and for voicing Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), joins Tom Holland’s Spider-Man franchise in this villainous role.
Marvin Jones III’s Background and Career
Marvin Jones III (b. 1976) is a U.S. rapper-actor from Los Angeles (professionally known as Krondon). He first attracted attention in television and comics adaptations as a villain. In 2018-2021, he starred as Tobias Whale on The CW’s Black Lightning, an African-American crime boss with albinism. (EW notes: Tobias Whale is an African-American man with albinism.) Salon magazine highlighted Jones’ breakthrough, pointing out that both he and his character Tobias are Black men with albinism, making his casting historically significant. In interviews, Jones said playing Tobias Whale was “an honor…a privilege” because actors with albinism had long been marginalized.
Image: Actor Marvin “Krondon” Jones III at The CW Network’s 2018 upfront event in New York. Known for his albino appearance and baritone voice, Jones built a career playing villains – notably Tobias Whale on Black Lightning and the voice of Tombstone in animated Spider-Man (Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty). Jones also entered Marvel lore earlier as the voice of Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln) in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He reprised Tombstone in other Marvel media (Marvel’s Spider-Man games, etc.) and quickly became a fan favorite for the live-action role. Besides superhero fare, Jones appeared in TV series like Halo (recurring role Louis-036, 2024) and The Equalizer (2024), and co-starred in action films (e.g., Shadow Force in 2025).
Career timeline (selected highlights):
- 2018: Voiced Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
- 2018–2021: Series regular as Tobias Whale on Black Lightning (The CW).
- 2024: Recurring role in Halo Season 2 (Louis-036).
- 2024: Guest role on CBS’s The Equalizer.
- 2025: Co-starred in Lionsgate’s Shadow Force (released July 2025).
- Sept. 2025: Announced as Lonnie “Tombstone” Lincoln in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- July 31, 2026: Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres (MCU Phase 5).
Cast as Tombstone in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
On Sept. 23, 2025, Deadline (via Marvel news sites) confirmed that Jones “has been officially cast in the role of Tombstone in Spider-Man 4”. The film (working title Spider-Man 4, a.k.a. Brand New Day) reunites director Destin Daniel Cretton with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. In addition to Holland and Zendaya (MJ), the ensemble includes Jacob Batalon (Ned), Jon Bernthal (Punisher), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk), and Michael Mando (Mac Gargan/Scorpion). Sadie Sink and others fill undisclosed roles. Production faced a recent pause (Holland was briefly injured in late 2025), but casting moves continue. Jones’ Tombstone will join these Marvel characters in theaters on July 31, 2026.
Tombstone (comic name Lonnie Lincoln) is a classic Spider-Man villain. A Harlem-born gangster, he’s an albino African-American crime lord and Kingpin enforcer. Marvel’s profile notes that Lonnie’s whitened skin and filed teeth earned him the nickname Tombstone, and he eventually gained superhuman strength and near-indestructible skin. (His daughter Janice Lincoln later became the supervillain Beetle in the comics.) Jones’ casting means Tombstone finally appears in live-action Marvel. Jones previously voiced the animated Tombstone, so Marvel is bringing an established voice to the big-screen role.
Industry reaction: Marvel enthusiasts took Jones’ casting as long-awaited confirmation of fan rumors. In comic circles, he was a top pick for Tombstone thanks to his height (~6’7″) and voice. Marvel pundits note that Jones’ history with the character extends to rumors about Sony’s canceled El Muerto project (where he was eyed for Tombstone). Now it’s official: as a Deadline report put it, “Marvin Jones III will play crime boss Tombstone” in the new Spider-Man. (Insider’s note that Jones is already voicing Tombstone again in an upcoming Spider-Verse sequel, hinting at cross-universe continuity.)
Representation and Impact
Jones’ casting is being viewed as a milestone for representation. In both comics and his career, Tombstone is defined by albinism. Entertainment Weekly’s 2017 write-up described Tobias Whale as “an African-American man with albinism”. Salon’s 2018 profile emphasized that “both the character and Jones are African American men who live with albinism”. As Jones himself noted, actors with albinism have rarely had leading roles, so getting to play Tobias Whale was “an honor, a privilege”. Fans and advocates see casting Jones – an African-American actor with albinism – as bringing authenticity to Tombstone, who shares those traits. It also signals Marvel’s broader push for diversity: several recent villains (like Killmonger and other black characters) have been portrayed with nuance, and Tombstone’s live-action debut follows that trend.
Jones’s success story resonates with many. He started in underground rap (fronting the group Strong Arm Steady) and spent years as a character actor before comic fandom made him a star. Now, stepping into the MCU spotlight at age 49, he embodies underdog achievement. Fans on social media have celebrated the news, calling it well-deserved – a hero’s welcome for an actor long considered “perfect for Tombstone.” His casting is also personal: after playing Tombstone’s voice and Tobias Whale (another albinistic villain), Jones told reporters he hopes the role inspires others with albinism who seldom see themselves represented on screen.
What’s Next for Jones and Marvel’s Spider-Man
With Jones aboard, Marvel’s Spider-Man sequel is rounding out its cast and moving toward production. Filming is slated to resume by year’s end, and the story is expected to involve Tombstone prominently in New York’s crime world. Comic experts note that Tombstone’s backstory involves key characters: for example, he once attempted to kill Daily Bugle editor Robbie Robertson, making him one of Peter Parker’s most personal adversaries. This suggests Brand New Day may incorporate elements of Spider-Man’s classic noir-era conflicts.
For Jones, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is likely just the beginning of MCU exposure. Having voiced Tombstone in animation, he may continue voicing the character in the animated Spider-Verse sequels as well. Meanwhile, Jones still has other projects: he filmed the Netflix crime-thriller Criminal in 2024, and he has music projects under his stage name. But the Marvel spotlight will be his largest platform yet. If Brand New Day hits its July 2026 release, Jones will reach audiences on a global scale and could very well return in future Spider-Man or Avengers installments (a proven villain often resurfaces in the comics).
In summary, Marvin Jones III’s casting as Tombstone combines his past villain roles with Marvel’s plans. It fulfills fan expectations by giving a voice actor continuity with his character, and it marks a significant moment of representation. As the new Spider-Man film nears production, Jones’ journey from Los Angeles rapper to Marvel villain underscores how diverse talent is reshaping the superhero genre.
FAQs:
- Who is Marvin Jones III? An actor and rapper from Los Angeles (born 1976), also known as Krondon. He gained fame portraying villains, notably Tobias Whale on CW’s Black Lightning and voicing Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He fronts the hip-hop group Strong Arm Steady and has ghostwritten for artists like Snoop Dogg.
- What is Spider-Man: Brand New Day? The working title for the next MCU Spider-Man film (Spider-Man 4) is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Tom Holland and Zendaya star, with a scheduled U.S. release of July 31, 2026. It follows Peter Parker in an original story, part of the MCU Phase Five. Marvin Jones III joins the cast as Lonnie “Tombstone” Lincoln.
- Who is Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln)? A classic Spider-Man villain. In Marvel comics, Lonnie Lincoln grew up bullied for his albinism and became a Harlem crime boss nicknamed Tombstone. He is very tall and strong (even filing his teeth to points) and eventually gained superhuman durability. Tombstone is often depicted as a top enforcer for Kingpin and has tangled with Spider-Man and other heroes.
- What roles did Marvin Jones III play before? Jones is best known as Tobias Whale on Black Lightning, the gang leader who was the show’s primary villain. He also voiced Tombstone in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). Additional credits include a recurring role in Halo (2024) and a co-starring part in the 2025 film Shadow Force.
- Why is this casting significant? Jones’ casting is notable for continuity and representation. Having previously voiced Tombstone, he brings authenticity to the live-action role. Moreover, Jones (an African-American man with albinism) matches Tombstone’s own traits. Fans and media have praised Marvel for honoring this by casting him. Jones himself said playing Tobias Whale was “a privilege” for these reasons, so this marks a milestone in his career and for diversity in superhero films.
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