Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) Movie Preview

A new "Spider-Man" movie – that means one thing above all: tons of headlines, leaks, and wild theories. The hype is real. "Brand New Day" promises a true fresh start for the MCU – but what does that actually mean?

We have gathered all the known information about "Spider-Man 4": What is the film about? Which characters will appear? And what does the current filming reveal? Stick around and you'll be among the first to know!

A New Beginning for Peter Parker

The ending of "No Way Home" offers the perfect opportunity to begin the film series anew: due to Doctor Strange's spell, no one remembers Peter Parker anymore – he is completely on his own. "Brand New Day" picks up exactly at this point. The title is a direct reference to a famous 2008 comic book storyline. Here, too, past events were undone – including Peter's marriage to Mary Jane Watson. Thanks to this reset, the movie also clears the way for new friends, new enemies – and perhaps even a new love.

According to producer Amy Pascal, the story centers on Peter's desire to leave behind his human identity: no more Peter Parker, only Spider-Man. This conflict between duty and personal happiness will likely form the centerpiece of the film.

The Cast: Returning Heroes and New Faces

The cast of "Brand New Day" will probably feel quite fresh: Tom Holland will be joined by many new co-stars. According to insiders, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon will only make brief appearances – Peter's loss is meant to be clearly felt. In their place, other characters will take center stage, and they are set to make quite an impact.

The Punisher: Frank Castle Enters the Scene

Perhaps the biggest surprise: Jon Bernthal is back as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher! After his acclaimed TV appearances, the brutal antihero is finally joining the MCU on the big screen. We are eager to see how the Punisher's toughness will fit into a "Spider-Man" movie. Insiders report that the two start off as enemies, until they are forced to fight side by side.

The Hulk Returns

Mark Ruffalo is officially returning as the Hulk – but not as we last saw him. The charming "Smart Hulk" seems to be a thing of the past: rumors suggest that Banner will lose control once again, with dramatic consequences for New York.

It remains unclear how the return of the raging Hulk will come about. At one point, there was speculation that the villain Mr. Negative would play a role in this – but according to new insider reports, he is not part of the film.

Sadie Sink as the Punisher's Sidekick

There are big question marks surrounding the role of "Stranger Things" actress Sadie Sink. Her look in leaked set photos, however, provides the first clues: camouflage pants, combat boots, and a military jacket. Fans suspect she might be playing Rachel Cole-Alves: a soldier who becomes an ally of the Punisher after a personal loss.

Others believe that Sink could be playing a new version of Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane. After all, Sink and Mary Jane share one striking feature: red hair.

Daredevil: Will Matt Murdock Return?

Many are hoping for an appearance by Charlie Cox as Daredevil, much like in "No Way Home". However, the actor said the following in an interview:

"I know that they all think I'm in Spider-Man because I'm filming something in London, which I'm not. I'm not in Spider-Man."

Sounds like a clear statement. But as we all know: nothing is set in stone at Marvel.

Michael Mando as Scorpion

What has been confirmed is a reunion with Michael Mando as Scorpion. We already know his character, Mac Gargan, from "Spider-Man: Homecoming". He is not the main villain, though, but part of a montage at the beginning of "Brand New Day" – at least according to some insiders. This is said to show how Peter has defeated countless enemies since "No Way Home" – including Tarantula, Boomerang, and Ramrod. It would be a homage to the classic comics, in which Spider-Man dealt with smaller crimes on a daily basis.

Black Cat & Knull

For a long time, there was talk of Sydney Sweeney playing Black Cat, the charming burglar Felicia Hardy. However, this appears to have been nothing more than a brief rumor. Knull, the God of Symbiotes, also seems to be off the table. After his appearance in "Venom 3", there was speculation that he would be the main villain in "Spider-Man 4". But it looks like his debut in the MCU will have to wait: this time, the story is said to focus on crime in the streets of New York – and cosmic gods hardly fit into that setting.

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova

Industry insider Daniel Richtman has revealed that Florence Pugh will make a guest appearance as Yelena Belova – likely in a post-credits scene. She is reportedly set to recruit Peter for the new Avengers. "Brand New Day" would then not only kick off the new "Spider-Man" trilogy, but also serve as a bridge to the next big "Avengers" era.

Tramell Tillman in a Secret Role

In addition, "Severance" actor Tramell Tillman has also been cast – and the rumor mill is buzzing. Speculation ranges from various villains to Jefferson Davis, the father of Miles Morales. But according to Kevin Feige, he won't be introduced until after the new "Avengers" movies, once Sony has completed its "Spider-Verse" trilogy.

The Story: Criminals Instead of World Destroyers

In "No Way Home", the boundaries of the multiverse were shattered. "Brand New Day" brings the story back down to Earth – literally. Marvel boss Kevin Feige explains:

"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."

To us, that sounds like a threat from a crime boss such as Kingpin – and an unleashed Hulk wreaking havoc on the streets of New York. And then, of course, there is the Punisher, who could leave a bloody trail through the city.

Still, many fans are probably hoping for a new villain we have never seen in the MCU before. Maybe we will soon get a name that no one has thought of yet. Who would you like to see? Let us know in the comments!

Behind the Scenes

There has been a major change behind the camera: director Jon Watts, who helmed the last three "Spider-Man" films with Tom Holland, is no longer involved. Instead, Destin Daniel Cretton, known for "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", will direct the film.

The new director is doing quite a few things differently. Compared to "No Way Home", for example, there will be significantly less use of green screen. One especially exciting detail: Jackie Chan's stunt team has been hired for the action scenes! That certainly suggests we can expect some martial arts sequences in "Brand New Day". Cretton's previous work in the MCU already showed clear influences from Chinese action cinema.

But don't worry: not everything behind the scenes has changed. The screenplay once again comes from Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The two have already written the stories for the first three "Spider-Man" movies starring Tom Holland. So hopefully, we will get a story of the usual quality – with a few updates in the presentation.

Incident on Set: Tom Holland Injured

Realistic action – that comes at a price. In mid-September, there was an incident on set: Tom Holland ended up in the hospital. During a stunt at Pinewood Studios, he suffered a concussion – filming had to be suspended for several days. Tom Holland is known for performing many of his own stunts. According to crew members, the incident occurred during a scene in which Spider-Man fights on top of a tank – presumably against soldiers trying to stand up to the Hulk.

When Will "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" Hit Theaters?

Filming for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" began in August and is expected to wrap in early 2026. The new adventure will swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

Even six months before its release, much of "Spider-Man 4" remains the subject of speculation. What is certain is that it marks a fresh start for Peter Parker, with new allies and new adversaries. We are anticipating a clearly more mature Spider-Man, which might not please all fans. Equally intriguing is the question of whether the change in directors will be noticeable.

We think this Spider-Man will be different from before. We will find out in just a few months if this development is the right move.