As is true with all comic book media adaptations, every new live-action iteration of Spider-Man has come with strengths and weaknesses in terms of how Peter Parker was depicted, as well as what his growth as a character has looked like. For instance, Tobey Maguire’s Peter doesn’t necessarily have a character arc throughout Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, and is instead static beyond temporarily losing his powers and bonding with the alien symbiote.
However, Tom Holland’s Peter was too enthralled about Tony Stark to question his motives in Captain America: Civil War, and his Home trilogy essentially scrubbed his character development blackboard in each installment. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is reaping what the Home trilogy had sown in this regard, and what’s left of Peter is literally nothing.
The MCU’s Spider-Man is a Hollow Husk
Spider-Man in mirror dimension in Spider-Man: No Way Home
The blame for the MCU’s Peter and Tony problem doesn’t land wholly on Peter, and yet he’s receiving no brownie points for spending nearly all of Spider-Man: Homecoming guided by AI before the high-tech costume is confiscated from him. He is then suddenly smitten by Michelle in Spider-Man: Far From Home with Liz Allan whisked out of the picture, and all he wants to do is be Peter after spending the entirety of Spider-Man: Homecoming wanting nothing more than to be Spider-Man and accepted as an Avenger.
Ironically, the MCU’s Spider-Man only technically became the ‘friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ by the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, left completely to his own devices and emboldened by his aunt’s “with great power, there must also come great responsibility” message. This has basically retconned the trilogy preceding it, as Peter has been living for the past four years as a ghost when he’s not in his new red, webs, and blue costume.
Peter Parker isn’t Even a Character Anymore
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Character development for Andrew Garfield’s Peter is rushed in The Amazing Spider-Man as he abruptly jumps from pursuing his uncle’s killer to pursuing Dr. Curtis Connors’ Lizard, and his arc throughout The Amazing Spider-Man 2 sees him stringing Gwen Stacy along and messing with her heart/head when he selfishly decides he wants to be with her again. Still, flaws and all, at least he was a character.
Tom Holland’s Peter retains his memories of his life, but it will have been four years since the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home made him a blank canvas, and Peter will be a whole new character again after already being stunted by a five-year blip between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame when we catch up with him in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Spider-Man may be thriving, but the movie will hopefully lay brickwork for Peter to be an interesting character again, too.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
Producers
Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad, Louis D’Esposito