What Is Spider-Man Brand New Day About?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth installment in Tom Holland's Spider-Man series, picking up in a world where everyone has forgotten who Peter Parker is — including his closest friends MJ and Ned. Rather than a world-ending, universe-spanning adventure, this film strips things back to a deeply personal, street-level story. As Peter himself puts it in the film's opening monologue: "Something bad was going to happen, and the only way to stop it was to make everyone forget about me." The central question driving Brand New Day isn't how Spider-Man saves the world — it's whether Peter Parker can save himself.
Tom Holland revealed in the Fandango Big Ticket Interview that he was involved in the creative process earlier than ever before, spending the break after No Way Home combing through fan forums and social media to understand what audiences truly wanted from the next chapter. "This is the first time I've been let into the creative process before pen has hit the page," Holland said. "Bringing the voice of the fans to the writers' room really gave us a leg up." The result, he says, is something "really fun and different" — a Spider-Man movie that feels relatable, grounded, and emotionally honest.
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Tom Holland explains how he researched fan expectations before Brand New Day was written
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Is the Punisher in Spider-Man Brand New Day?
Yes — and this might be one of the most exciting confirmations from the entire interview. Jon Bernthal returns as the Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Tom Holland could barely contain his enthusiasm talking about it. Holland described their dynamic as a "big brother, little brother bickering relationship" that evolved organically on set thanks to director Destin Daniel Cretton's open approach to improvisation and collaboration.
What makes their pairing especially compelling is the real-life history between the two. Holland revealed that he and Bernthal actually did each other's audition tapes — Holland for Spider-Man and Bernthal for The Punisher — back when Tom was just 17 years old. "For us to get to share the set and portray these characters on the biggest stage is such an awesome, full-circle moment," Holland said.
One of the most fun creative challenges the filmmakers tackled was figuring out how to fit the notoriously R-rated Punisher into a Spider-Man movie without defanging the character. Their solution? Every time Frank Castle goes to swear, Spider-Man webs his mouth shut. It's a clever, comedic workaround that keeps the Punisher's edge intact while fitting the tone of the film. Holland says the banter between the two is "really, really awesome" and that Bernthal sets an incredible tone whenever he's on screen.
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Tom Holland describes his real-life friendship with Jon Bernthal and their audition tape story
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Is the Hulk in Spider-Man Brand New Day?
Yes, the Hulk is confirmed for Spider-Man: Brand New Day — though the cast was very careful not to reveal anything about what role he plays or what version of the Hulk fans should expect. When the interviewer pressed Tom Holland on the Hulk's context in the film, Holland simply smiled and said: "The Hulk is green." The rest of the panel erupted, noting that there are, in fact, other colors of Hulk in the comics — a not-so-subtle hint that things may not be as straightforward as they seem.
Whether this is a brief cameo, a supporting role, or something more significant remains tightly under wraps. The cast and crew are clearly committed to keeping the surprises intact, with Holland noting this was "day one" of the press tour and he had a reputation for spoilers he was determined not to repeat.
Who Are the Villains in Spider-Man Brand New Day?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is stacking its villain roster with some deep comic book cuts. Confirmed baddies include:
- The Hand — the deadly ninja organization with deep Marvel roots
- Boomerang — a street-level Spider-Man rogue with a uniquely chaotic fighting style
- Scorpion — one of Spider-Man's most iconic physical adversaries
- Tombstone — a brutal enforcer from the comics with a long history opposing both Spider-Man and the Punisher
- Tarantula — rounding out the arachnid-adjacent villain count in a fun meta touch
Holland described the villain work as both a dream and a nightmare. "They all have really unique fighting styles, and it presented an opportunity to really dive into the comics and pick out our favorite snapshots that fans have connected with over the years," he said. Director Destin Daniel Cretton pushed for many of the action sequences to be shot in extreme slow-motion — which sounds incredible but left zero margin for error in stunts. Holland noted that one particular shot of Spider-Man flying into the Hand took approximately 65 takes to get right. The commitment to perfection is evident.
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The cast reacts to the Hulk question — Tom simply says 'The Hulk is green'
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What Happened to MJ and Ned After No Way Home?
One of the most emotionally layered elements of Brand New Day is the question of how MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) have moved forward in a world where Peter Parker simply doesn't exist in their memories. According to both actors, their characters did more than just survive — they thrived.
Zendaya described the challenge and joy of revisiting MJ at a new point in her life: imagining what she'd been up to, how much she'd grown, and what dreams she'd pursued without Peter. The creative team even went back through scenes to do what Zendaya affectionately called a "re-MJ-ifying pass" — making sure the character's signature dry, awkward humor hadn't been sanded away by maturity. "She's still who she is at the core," Zendaya said. "We just needed to bring a little of that weirdness back."
Batalon's Ned, meanwhile, has apparently built a full adult life — complete with a job and real responsibilities. But there's an undercurrent of something unresolved. "Ned is still incredibly upset with Spider-Man," Batalon said, laughing. "Even though he doesn't know why. He just woke up one day thinking, 'I kind of want to know who that guy is.'" It's a beautifully tragic setup that honors the emotional weight of No Way Home's ending.
Who Is Sadie Sink Playing in Spider-Man Brand New Day?
This is the question everyone wants answered — and the one the interview deliberately refused to answer. Sadie Sink is confirmed to be in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and her presence generated enormous speculation even before the film's release. During the Fandango interview, the host admitted she couldn't even reference Sink's character by name, describing the situation as "the most awkward interview in the world."
What we do know: Sink grew up watching the Spider-Man films and called joining the franchise "very surreal." She also has a pre-existing relationship with director Destin Daniel Cretton, having worked with him at age 14 on the film The Glass Castle. That comfort level, she said, made stepping into such an anticipated project feel more grounded. "He's just such a leader — makes you feel so comfortable," she said. As for her character? "I really like her, and that's all I'll say."
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Sadie Sink deflects questions about her mystery character with a smile
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The secrecy surrounding Sink's role suggests it's a significant one — possibly a character reveal that recontextualizes something earlier in the film or franchise. Fans have speculated about everything from Spider-Woman to a classic comic love interest, but nothing has been confirmed.
When Does Spider-Man Brand New Day Release?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st. Tickets are available now through Fandango. Based on everything the cast shared in this interview — the grounded story, the Punisher team-up, the stacked villain roster, and Tom Holland's deepest creative involvement yet — this looks set to be one of the most anticipated Marvel releases in years. If the energy in that interview room is any indication, the cast knows they've made something special.
