Hitting theaters later this year is Avengers: Doomsday, which looks to be one of the biggest events in superhero history. While previous Avengers movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame featured an extensive roster of Marvel Cinematic Universe favorites, Doomsday is even folding long-gone characters into the mix. Before then, though, we’ll be getting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has also inspired speculation about what MCU favorites could be featured in the adventure.
Jon Favreau might be busy promoting his latest film, The Mandalorian and Grogu, but the writer/director/actor has finally weighed in on if he will return for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In addition to Favreau kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe by directing Iron Man, he also cast himself in a small role as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark’s driver and bodyguard. Happy has appeared in multiple MCU outings, including all three Spider-Man movies. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Favreau spoke about a potential return for Brand New Day:
“I can give you a big spoiler: I’m not in it. He lost his memory.”
Happy Hogan, along with the rest of the world, forgot that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, thanks to a spell by Doctor Strange at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, Favreau seems to be confused about the mechanics of the spell because he later referenced Peter Parker forgetting everyone while joking that if he is going to be in the movie, he needs to film his cameo soon, saying, “He might meet me again someday, I don’t know. But isn’t that how the last one ended with him forgetting everything? So now it’s all about his new… I don’t know anything about it. If I’m in it, they’d better hurry up, ’cause they’re running out of time.”
Sony Pictures
Even though Spider-Man: No Way Home seemed to end on the note of giving the MCU Spider-Man films a fresh start with an original supporting cast of characters, the recent trailer for Brand New Day suggests it is a lot more of a direct sequel to No Way Home. Even though Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan is not returning, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon will reprise their roles as MJ and Ned Leeds, respectively. Despite them forgetting their former friend was Spider-Man, they seem to be looking into finding out who Spider-Man is, based on the footage shown at CinemaCon.
In addition, Michael Mando is set to reprise his role as Scorpion after being teased in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day features two MCU heroes: Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. Combine that with the trailer showcasing the ninja group The Hand from The Defenders Saga, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day is deeply connected to the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe history.
It is currently unknown if Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan will return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following the death of Tony Stark / Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame, he naturally fit into the supporting cast of the MCU’s Spider-Man films as a link to the Stark legacy. Yet now with Spider-Man films forging their own paths and Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, but now as the villainous Doctor Doom, Happy Hogan doesn’t have an obvious way to continue in the MCU. Maybe Marvel Studios will save him for fun cameo appearances like in Deadpool & Wolverine. Maybe Marvel Studios can get Favreau to film a cameo for VisionQuest or Wonder Man Season 2.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton