Spider-Man: Brand New Day Production Photos Hint at Street-Level Villains
The next chapter in Tom Holland's Spider-Man saga is starting to take shape and it's looking a lot more grounded. Titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, this film promises to be a departure from the high-flying, multiversal mayhem of No Way Home, opting instead for something more street-level and character-driven. Thanks to recent production photos and an accidental Instagram post, we may now have confirmation of at least two villains Peter Parker will face off against. And they're not who you might expect.
A Return to the Streets: Feige Teases Smaller Stakes
In a recent press briefing, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted at a tonal shift for Brand New Day.
"There’s a promise at the end of No Way Home, that for as sad as it is that Peter is forgotten by everyone, we’re finally seeing him become the true neighborhood Spider-Man," he explained.
No more Stark tech. No more world-ending threats. Just Peter, his suit, and the streets of New York.
This aligns with Feige’s comments about bringing in more grounded Marvel characters, including The Punisher. “I don’t want to say too much,” he added, before name-dropping director Destin Daniel Cretton and teasing that the walls of the art department are covered in vintage comic book covers that the team is bringing to life.
Destin Daniel Cretton's assistant posted this on IG, maybe a hint at the covers wall he's taking influence from?? #SpiderManBrandNewDay @SpiderMan_Newz @SpiderMan_MCU_ pic.twitter.com/dGWVEFvPeZ
— number9dreamz (@number9dreamz) July 29, 2025
The Covers That Reveal Everything
That’s where it gets interesting. Cretton’s assistant, Ziyi Cao, recently shared (and swiftly deleted) an Instagram post showing two of those very comic covers. Fans with sharp eyes spotted them immediately:
- The Amazing Spider-Man #134 (1974): Features Spider-Man battling Tarantula, with an appearance from The Punisher.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #345 (1991): Features Boomerang, plus a reappearance of Venom.
While Venom might be a stretch given Sony’s separate continuity, Tarantula and Boomerang are a perfect fit for the street-level tone Feige promises. This also wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard these villains attached to the project through unofficial channels.
Here are the covers, maybe we get a villain fighting montage like in F4 to show what happened during the time jump from NWH or they are present for longer who knows 👀 pic.twitter.com/32w6nt4cht
— number9dreamz (@number9dreamz) July 29, 2025
Who’s Who: Cast & Character Clues
So far, confirmed cast members include:
- Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man
- Zendaya as MJ (in a reduced role)
- Sadie Sink (rumored to be playing either Lily Hollister / Menace or Carlie Cooper)
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / The Punisher
- Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk
- Liza Colón-Zayas in an undisclosed role
- Michael Mando expected to return as Scorpion
- Steven Yeun rumored to join in a mystery role
Given that Brand New Day is also the title of a specific post-Civil War comic arc, it's safe to assume the film will borrow from that source material, much like No Way Home did with One More Day. In the comics, Brand New Day follows Peter's attempt to rebuild his life after public unmasking, a failed marriage, and the erasure of key relationships.
Director Destin Cretton Speaks Out
At this year’s CinemaCon, director Destin Daniel Cretton offered a brief but promising update:
"We’re spending every day nerding out over how Spidey swings, how to make an emotional story, and deliver something fans have never seen before."
It's worth noting that Cretton is known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, another character-first film praised for blending action with emotion. That pedigree bodes well for a Spider-Man movie trying to hit the reset button.
Tom Holland Promises a "Fresh Start"
While Holland couldn’t attend the event in person, he sent a heartfelt message via video:
"I’m halfway around the world filming, but I want fans to know: this is a fresh start. That’s all I can say for now."
It’s clear the actor is leaning into the back-to-basics approach, and fans seem ready for it.
What This Means for the MCU’s Future
With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon and the Multiverse Saga still unfolding, Brand New Day represents a refreshing tonal shift. Much like Daredevil: Born Again, this Spider-Man movie seems designed to bring emotional weight and narrative simplicity back to the forefront.
If villains like Tarantula, Boomerang, and Scorpion are indeed involved, fans can expect an action-packed but personal story where Peter isn't saving the world—he's just trying to save his city.
The film was recently bumped back a week, now scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. That gives Marvel plenty of runway to build up anticipation and drip-feed more casting and story details in the months ahead.
After years of multiversal madness, Spider-Man: Brand New Day looks set to bring things back to basics. With grounded villains, returning cast members, and a director known for heartfelt storytelling, the stage is set for Tom Holland's Spider-Man to shine in a new light.