It is not an April Fools’ Day prank, folks—Marvel Studios has indeed disclosed the official title of Spider-Man 4, which will now be called Spider-Man: Brand New Day, led by Tom Holland. It will come out in theatres on July 31, 2026.
At CinemaCon 2025, director Destin Daniel Cretton announced that the next Spider-Man movie will be titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, prompting fans to wonder if the MCU will draw inspiration from the 2008 comic book event—a storyline that remains one of the most controversial in Spider-Man’s comic book history.
The Brand New Day arc (2008) actually met with heavy scrutiny from die-hard Marvel comic fans, as it served as a follow-up to the highly controversial One More Day arc.
The Brand New Day era of Spider-Man was a major turning point for Peter Parker, following the debated events of One More Day, where his marriage to Mary Jane Watson was erased from history due to a deal with Mephisto. This storyline, which ran from The Amazing Spider-Man #546–#564 (2008), focuses on Peter adjusting to his new reality while introducing new allies and enemies.
Well, Mephisto has yet to officially make his debut in the MCU. However, we do have Doctor Strange, who helped Peter in No Way Home (2021). Due to Peter’s constant interruptions, Strange accidentally botched the spell meant to make people forget Spider-Man’s real identity.
Instead, the failed spell brought in villains from different universes, including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, and more, and also marked the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Based on the newly announced Brand New Day arc, it seems unlikely that Maguire and Garfield will be part of Spider-Man 4.
Which characters will appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Given the multiversal chaos in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it seems like Brand New Day will bid farewell to some popular MCU characters, such as Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds. We already saw them completely forget about Peter’s existence during No Way Home’s final moments. However, they might still make cameo appearances—who knows?
There are also online rumours suggesting that Batalon’s Ned Leeds could adopt the Hobgoblin persona in Spider-Man 4. Let’s see what happens.
Will we get any new characters?
Harry Osborn is one of the most prominent Spider-Man characters yet to make his MCU debut. While No Way Home confirmed that Norman Osborn doesn’t exist in the MCU (since Willem Dafoe’s version belonged to another universe), Harry might still be introduced as Peter’s new best friend in college. His character could follow a fresh arc, potentially leading him to become Menace instead of the Green Goblin.
Another important character who could appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is Mister Negative. With his identity erased and finances in shambles, Peter could cross paths with Martin Li, who runs the F.E.A.S.T. shelter, previously introduced in No Way Home. Li’s alter ego, Mister Negative, is a powerful yet grounded villain, making him a perfect antagonist for a street-level Spider-Man story.
Carlie Cooper could also be introduced as Peter’s new love interest, filling the void left by MJ’s absence. As a forensic scientist, she could allow Peter to interact with crime investigations in a new way.
Given Harry Osborn’s prominent role in the Brand New Day comic storyline (where he returned from the dead due to altered history), the MCU’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day could use this opportunity to introduce him. The film’s apparent focus on new characters—highlighted by Sadie Sink’s casting—makes Harry’s potential inclusion even more intriguing, especially with Peter Parker’s prior support system now gone. Stay tuned for more updates!
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