Spider-Man: Brand New Day is two months away from release, and there is still a lot of mystery surrounding Tom Holland’s fourth Spider-Man film. Although characters like Hulk, Punisher, Scorpion, and Tombstone will appear, it is unclear how all these pieces fit together, especially with the rumor that Sadie Sink is playing Jean Grey. Meanwhile, the trailer for Brand New Day also revealed that the villainous ninja organization The Hand would appear in the MCU sequel. Now, an exciting new look at the film suggests the organization has a bigger role in the story than originally believed.
Empire released the cover story for their upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day issue. Set to hit retailers and online on Jun. 4, the two covers feature Spider-Man fighting the Hand, while the villains are shown in their classic red suits from the comics. Check them out below:
The Hand was created by Frank Miller and made its first appearance in Daredevil #174 back in September 1981. It is a mythical, occult-like criminal organization of ninjas that has interacted with various corners of the Marvel Universe, most notably battling characters like Daredevil and Elektra. The organization was featured prominently in Daredevil Season 2, Iron Fist Season 1, and The Defenders. Following the defeat of the five leaders (known as Fingers) in The Defenders, the organization has been absent from the MCU for nearly a decade.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has featured The Hand prominently in its promotional material. Not only was the shot of Spider-Man fighting the Hand the final scene of the trailer, but one of the film’s two teaser posters also depicted their all-out brawl. Now, with this Empire cover and the fact that villains like Scorpion, Tombstone, Boomerang, and Tarantula have not been highlighted, it raises the question if The Hand is the main antagonist of the sequel.
The inclusion of The Hand in Spider-Man: Brand New Day has sparked speculation that Charlie Cox will have a cameo as Matt Murdock/Daredevil. The scene of Spider-Man fighting the group in prison was given new weight after the Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finale saw Murdock sent behind bars for his actions as Daredevil. Brand New Day takes place in mid-to-late 2028, while Born Again Season 2 is set in Fall 2027. If Daredevil is not in Brand New Day, that certainly raises even more exciting questions about why The Hand is fighting Spider-Man.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton