2026 is aiming to be a huge year for cinema, thanks in part to the release of Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day . As Tom Holland’s fourth solo film portraying everyone’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, director Destin Daniel Cretton’s superhero film will surely be a huge cinematic event, especially after the massive acclaim received by his previous blockbuster, Spider-Man: No Way Home .
Now that the title of the MCU’s fourth Spider-Man film has finally been revealed, there has been much speculation as to what audiences will see in this new chapter of the webslinger’s story, based on supposed leaks and comic book lore. There is a decent amount of facts and rumors surrounding this big-budget film, so here’s a guide to what has and hasn’t been confirmed about Spider-Man: Brand New Day so far.
When will Spider-Man: Brand New Day come out?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to premiere on July 31, 2026 . The film was originally set to come out roughly three months after the release of Avengers: Doomsday . However, since Doomsday was pushed back to December 2026 , it now seems unlikely that the events of the film will have a direct impact on Brand New Day ‘s story.
What is Spider-Man: Brand New Day about?
Naturally, the story of Marvel’s next Spider-Man film remains a secret. However, the film’s title implies the story is inspired by the comic book storyline of the same name. The “Brand New Day” arc follows Peter after he wipes the world’s memory of his secret identity, which resulted in him ending his relationship with MJ (which is what occurred in No Way Home ). In an interview with Collider , Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige discussed the new approach that will be taken in continuing Peter’s story on the big screen:
“I think there’s a promise at the end of No Way Home that, for as sad as it is that Peter is forgotten by everyone in his life, we are seeing for the first time in the Tom Holland Spider-Man stories him being a proper Spider-Man,” Feige said. “Him being by himself, dedicated to saving the city, and dealing with – for lack of better terms – street-level crime, as opposed to world-ending events.”
Feige’s comments suggest that Brand New Day won’t feature an Avengers-level threat or any multiversal plot elements, setting itself apart from Far From Home and No Way Home . This should be a refreshing story for audiences who have grown tired of such narratives in Spider-Man films.
Overall, a street-level story seems like a natural follow-up to No Way Home , which ended with Peter continuing to fight crime in New York on his own with a new homemade suit. Brand New Day has the chance to focus more on the fallout of Peter choosing to live alone and without any of his friends or the Avengers knowing who he is. This could make for a more grounded, relatable, and distinctive story.
Who will star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
- Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
- Zendaya as Michelle Jones-Watson (“MJ”)
- Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher
- Sadie Sink
- Liza Colón Zayas
While the list of confirmed characters and cast members is short at this time, Holland said via a video at CinemaCon 2025 that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be a “fresh start” for the franchise. This implies that, aside from MJ and Ned, the film will feature an entirely new cast of characters who inhabit Peter Parker’s world. It’s unknown how big of a role Zendaya and Batalon’s characters will play in the film, but for the sequel to undo Doctor Strange’s mind-wipe and have them reunite with Peter would seem like a rushed return to the status quo.
Since it is possible that Peter will find new love in his life, fans have spent a lot of time speculating as to who Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will play in Brand New Day . According to industry scooper Daniel Richtman, Sink’s character is reportedly described as “a sharp and free-spirited woman with a mysterious past. Strong-willed, intelligent, and not easily intimidated.”
Since Sink’s casting was announced, there have been predictions for her character that have ranged from the X-Men’s Jean Grey to cat burglar Felicia Hardy/Black Cat to even a new version of Mary Jane Watson. It has also been theorized that Sink will play Lily Hollister/Menace, one of the primary villains in the “Brand New Day” storyline. It has been rumored that Sink will play Gwen Stacy or even Peter’s own daughter, Mayday Parker.
Similarly, there have been rumors of a female villain appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day , with a casting call reportedly being made that reads: “30s-50s, any ethnicity. A powerful and imposing figure. Seeking an actress with [a] strong and commanding screen presence and depth. Negotiation with someone (doesn’t say who).”
Other casting calls have been allegedly looking for people to play “a resourceful young man in his early 20s” and another man in their 30s to 50s to play “a no-nonsense authority figure who sees the world in black and white. Loyal, determined, and willing to cross lines to maintain order.”
As for the Punisher, it seems natural for Spider-Man to cross paths with this local vigilante in Brand New Day ‘s street-level story. The Punisher’s appearance suggests that the film will connect to the events of Marvel’s Disney+ series , Daredevil: Born Again , which saw Wilson Fisk/Kingpin be come Mayor of New York, enact martial law, and establish an Anti-Vigilante Task Force that imprisoned multiple crime fighters, including the Punisher. This puts Peter’s life as Spider-Man in jeopardy, so it’s possible that Brand New Day will show the hero team up with Punisher to combat Kingpin and his corrupt, oppressive Task Force.
Who is the villain of Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Since details about the film’s cast are still unfolding, it is still unclear who Spider-Man will face in his fourth solo movie. Despite this, the comic that shares the name of the film features Martin Li/Mister Negative as one of its villains.
In the comics, Mister Negative is both the owner of the F.E.A.S.T. organization of homeless shelters (which Aunt May worked for in Spider-Man: Far From Home ) and the super-powered crime boss of the Inner Demons, who corrupts and brainwashes people to do his bidding. Mister Negative became incredibly popular thanks to his appearance in the hit Playstation 4 video game Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018. Finally, this compelling and powerful villain may receive the big screen treatment that he deserves.
Though Brand New Day will star Punisher after the events of Daredevil: Born Again , it is unknown whether Kingpin will be presented as an on-screen antagonist. Kingpin actor Vincent D’Onofrio revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Marvel Studios doesn’t have the rights to use his character in a film, given Kingpin’s movie rights were sold to Sony long ago.
It also seemed like Spider-Man was on a collision course with Tom Hardy’s Venom after No Way Home , the latter actor confirmed in an interview with AP Entertainment that his version of Eddie Brock won’t face off against Spider-Man. However, nothing is set in stone, especially when it comes to Marvel movies.
There is still the matter of the Venom symbiote he left behind in the mid-credits scene of No Way Home . Whether or not this will lead Peter to don his iconic alien costume in Brand New Day and face another version of Venom remains to be seen. Marvel could be saving this for Avengers: Secret Wars , as the original “Secret Wars” comic storyline depicts Peter bonding with the Venom symbiote for the first time.
When does Spider-Man: Brand New Day begin filming?
Holland announced that production for his fourth Spider-Man film will commence in the summer of 2025. Whether Holland’s filming schedule on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in the same year will affect Brand New Day’s production is unknown. Nevertheless, filming will reportedly commence in Glasgow, Scotland, with Holland sharing his enthusiasm for the movie’s production on Flip Your Wig :
“I’m obviously over the moon and so excited. Playing Spider-Man is like hanging out with an old pal, and I think we were really restricted with what we could do in [ No Way Home ] because of COVID. We shot the entire film on stages. Now, we’re really gonna lean into that old-school filmmaking and shoot in real locations, which is why we’re starting in Glasgow.”
