10 Marvel Characters Most Likely To Appear In Spider-Man: Brand New Day After The MCU Movie’s Title Announcement

Now that Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been announced as the official title of the next Spider-Man movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its connection to a key comic book story, as well as what Tom Holland said during the title’s announcement, makes a few characters likely to appear. So far, the MCU’s Spider-Man movies have included Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds, Zendaya’s MJ, Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May, and a few other recurring characters. That should change.

At this year’s CinemaCon, where ScreenRant is in attendance, it was confirmed that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the title of Holland’s next MCU movie. The actor claimed it would be a “fresh start” for Peter Parker’s life after Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s ending completely turned his world upside down. Based on how Holland describes the next chapter of the Spider-Man movie franchise and the title’s comic book connection, a roster of new and returning characters is likely for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

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J. Jonah Jameson

A Fan-Favorite Star Can Finally Get A Big MCU Role

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When it comes to superhero movies, a few castings have been so good that it is hard to picture someone else playing certain roles. That is the case with J. Jonah Jameson. First giving life to the character in 2002’s Spider-Man, J. K. Simmons has reprised his role in the MCU, as well as in animated projects and video games.

The Amazing Spider-Man franchise is the only live-action one not to have J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson.

While he had a bigger role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Jameson still needs to be a major player in the MCU franchise. Spider-Man: Brand New Day could give him that. As the film will likely focus on a new roster of characters alongside Holland’s Peter Parker, JJJ’s inclusion would be a familiar face for fans. Peter will need money for his apartment, so he could finally start working for Jameson. The character’s health also plays a role in Marvel Comics’ “Brand New Day.”

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Dexter Bennett

JJJ’s Continued MCU Role Would Need A Rival

Dexter Bennett in Marvel Comics

Dexter Bennett is one of the important characters in Marvel Comics’ “Brand New Day” storyline. Due to financial troubles and a heart attack, Jameson ends up being sidelined from his journalistic endeavors for a period. His rival is Dexter Bennett, who takes over The Daily Bugle. Given how his initials fit the famous newspaper, he simply renamed it to The DB. It is safe to say that Jameson hates the man.

If J. K. Simmons were to return as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, then one would have to assume that Dexter Bennett would be right alongside him, making his MCU debut. It still stands to be seen how much the Marvel movie will pull from the comic book storyline that inspired its title, but as Bennett also has a revenge plan for Spider-Man in the comics, his inclusion would make sense.

8

Bobby Carr

Zendaya’s MJ Can Return Through His Inclusion

MJ and Bobby Carr in a relationship in Marvel Comics

Bobby Carr’s possible role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is more exciting because of who could appear alongside him than for the character’s MCU debut in itself. In the comics, Carr is a famous Hollywood actor. His most interesting factor for the MCU movie is that Carr is the character Mary Jane Watson begins to date in the comics after her marriage with Peter is destroyed in a deal with Mephisto to save Aunt May’s life.

Zendaya’s MJ smiling and Tom Holland in the Spider-Man suit but unmasked looking sad

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Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with Zendaya’s MJ forgetting who Peter was, just like the rest of the world. To keep her safe, Holland’s Spider-Man chose not to tell her the truth. Since Zendaya will reportedly return for a reduced role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it would make sense if Peter were to search for her and find out MJ has a new boyfriend, Bobby Carr.

7

Black Cat

The MCU’s Peter Parker Is Headed Down A Street-Level Route

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Black Cat’s possible inclusion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is not due to the MCU movie’s connection to the comics. The reason why Felicia Hardy would make sense for the film is mainly due to the path Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is on. He chose not to tell Zendaya’s MJ about their relationship to keep her safe. Also living a double life, Black Cat would not make Peter worry about her safety.

Adding to that, Holland’s mention of how the film will be a fresh start for the character and the MCU’s Spider-Man franchise also makes sense for Black Cat. After spending years with Tony Stark’s technology and money available to help with his Spider-Man adventures, Peter is now broke and living alone. That sets him up for a new street-level adventure, and Black Cat is the perfect love interest for that.

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Gwen Stacy

Peter Parker’s Second Most Famous Love Interest

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Another possible love interest for the hero is Gwen Stacy. Like Black Cat, Gwen is not a character who would make sense for the MCU’s upcoming Spider-Man film due to being connected to the “Brand New Day” comics. Instead, she would be a great fit for the Spider-Man movie because Gwen is Peter’s second most famous love interest after MJ, as well as how they meet for the first time.

MCU Spider-Man Movies

Release Year

Spider-Man: Homecoming

2017

Spider-Man: Far From Home

2019

Spider-Man: No Way Home

2021

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

2026

In the comics, the first time Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy see one another is in college. Holland’s Peter graduated from high school at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Reports about the 2026 Spider-Man movie have claimed that Peter’s college classmates will play a role in the film. Based on that and the reset the franchise is going after, introducing Gwen Stacy would be a major move.

5

Harry Osborn

Another Major Replacement For An MCU Character

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Spider-Man: Brand New Day could answer the question of where Harry Osborn has been. In the comics, Harry was revealed to be alive and living in Europe for years. That could explain why Willem Dafoe’s version of Norman Osborn from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy could not find the MCU’s Harry when he looked for him in New York City. Like Gwen, Harry and Peter also meet in college in the comics for the first time.

The MCU made Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds forget who Holland’s Peter Parker is.

In the “Brand New Day” comics, Harry plays an important role, particularly due to how his girlfriend turns out to be a villain. The MCU made Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds forget who Holland’s Peter Parker is. As such, the character is without a best friend. Who would be better for that role than Peter’s actual best friend in most media?

4

Menace

The Villain Might Have Already Been Cast

Menace using a glider in Marvel comics

As mentioned, Harry Osborn’s girlfriend, Lily Hollister, goes by the supervillain name Menace in the comics. As one of the key players in the “Brand New Day” storyline, the character would make sense to serve as the main villain of Tom Holland’s next Spider-Man movie. The MCU could even tie it to Daredevil: Born Again, as Lily’s father was running for Mayor of New York, the position Wilson Fisk recently got.

Wilson Fisk and Muse in Daredevil: Born Again

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Menace would give Marvel a different kind of villain for the Spider-Man franchise, as Holland’s first MCU trilogy only had male villains. A villain with a double life would also be interesting for Peter at a time when he will not have much going for him besides Spider-Man. Menace could also explain who Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is playing in the MCU movie, as she has the looks and skills to make Menace intimidating.

3

Carlie Cooper

Peter’s Love Life In The MCU Could Get Complicated

Peter Parker kissing Carlie Cooper in the comics.

If Black Cat and Gwen Stacy are not in the movie due to Marvel’s desire to pull more characters directly related to the “Brand New Day” story from the comics, then Carlie Cooper’s chances of debuting in the MCU would be good. The reason for that is that Peter dates Carlie in the comics, and the character is related to Menace, as she is close friends with Lily Hollister.

Carlie could end up getting Peter tangled with the Lily mystery on different fronts. She would also pose a problem for him. In the comics, Carlie is a police forensic expert. Dating someone in her line of work would be dangerous for Peter due to his vigilante activities as Spider-Man. Carlie could even be used against him in the MCU, as she found a spider-tracer in a body in the comics, leading to the assumption that Spider-Man had become a killer.

2

Mephisto

His MCU Debut Is Rumored To Already Be On The Cards

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Spider-Man: Brand New Day could really go big and bring the demon lord Mephisto to the big screen. The character is directly responsible for the events of “Brand New Day” in the comics, as he was the one to make the deal with Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson to take away their marriage and memories to save Aunt May. His inclusion in the Spider-Man movie could be controversial.

The MCU could go in a different direction with the character. Peter could make a deal with Mephisto so that only his loved ones remember who he is or bring Aunt May back to life in exchange for something unrelated to Zendaya’s MJ. According to Deadline, he will make his MCU debut on Disney+’s Ironheart, with Sacha Baron Cohen playing Mephisto. While that has yet to be confirmed, Mephisto is also rumored for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

1

Mister Negative

A Popular Villain With The Perfect Debut Already Set Up

Mister Negative using his power in Marvel Comics

Spider-Man: No Way Home saw Aunt May working at F.E.A.S.T., the charity center that was created by Martin Li in the comics. With the location already set up in the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day could bring a villain who has become popular in the past decade to live-action. Martin Li has a dark side, with the charitable man turning into the villain known as Mister Negative.

Mister Negative not only is a major player in the comics’ “Brand New Day,” but he also would make sense for a street-level MCU story. The Spider-Man villain had plans related to New York City’s crime families in both the comics and the character’s most popular adaptation, the 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man game. Mister Negative would be a powerful villain that would test Holland’s Peter Parker and could even lead to Aunt May flashbacks in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man Homecoming Mondo Poster

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Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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Superhero

Action

Adventure

Release Date

July 31, 2026

Director

Destin Daniel Cretton

Writers

Steve Ditko, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

Prequel(s)

Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tom Holland In The 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

    Tom Holland

    Spider-Man / Peter Parker

  • Headshot Of Zendaya In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios' 'Challengers'

    Zendaya

    Michelle Jones

  • Headshot Of Jacob Batalon

    Jacob Batalon

    Ned Leeds

  • Headshot Of Sadie Sink

    Sadie Sink

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