It’s been a busy week for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as previews of the summer 2026 movies hit the internet. The fourth solo film for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is on Sony’s calendar for a July 31 release date, positioning it as one of the last major tentpole movies that audiences will get before the fall.
As a result, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has attracted plenty of interest. The movie was included in ScreenRant’s 2026 summer movie preview, which included an exclusive interview with director Destin Daniel Cretton about the themes, story, and creative process. We were not the only source for fresh news about the movie, though, as the first three pages of Brand New Day’s script with annotations from Cretton, Holland, Zendaya, and others were also released online by Entertainment Weekly.
After releasing the first Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer in March, details revealed in Cretton’s interview and the film’s script provide more context for what was seen. The movie’s central story for Peter’s arc, specific placement in the MCU timeline, opening scene, and connections to the broader universe have now become clear.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Story Is About Peter Parker’s Many Problems
Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it was always the hope that Peter’s next MCU story would fully lean into his loneliness. Rest assured, Holland’s character will be broke, sad, and alone. Cretton said as much in our interview with him, teasing the many problems that the friendly neighborhood hero is enduring.
Peter is dealing with some real grown-up problems both personally and professionally, and for the first time, he’s learning how to deal with them completely on his own.
The last point is the key to Brand New Day’s themes. Cretton has made a movie about the dangers of living in isolation and the need for community. He went on to tell us how Peter is “completely disconnected and alone” despite being in a highly populated area like New York City, which is new for him: “This is the first time we see Peter trying to live his life outside of his community of friends and family.”
Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Intro Erases Peter From Memories Like Back To The Future
Peter Ned and MJ in front of a laptop in Spider-Man No Way Home
One of Cretton’s annotations on Brand New Day’s script reveals a fresh Marvel Studios logo that directly connects to Peter’s lonely life. The movie will begin by showing memories that Peter no longer shares with Ned, MJ, and Aunt May. Think of how Back to the Future handled Marty McFly vanishing as his life became uncertain.
This will give Brand New Day a chance to show the effects of Doctor Strange’s memory-erasing spell in No Way Home and give us an idea of what Ned and MJ’s memories look like without Peter. It’ll be fascinating to see which scenes in particular are highlighted in the intro.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Opening Scene Details
The script pages have also confirmed the film’s opening scene. Brand New Day begins with Peter reading the letter for MJ from No Way Home, with his voice-over continuing as the movie shows him sitting alone in his apartment. He’s focused on perfecting his web-shooters, but he misses Aunt May, MJ, and Ned.
He’s reminded of them all: Ned through a LEGO Emperor Palpatine figure, May through an alert to take flowers to her grave, and MJ through the coffee cup she gave him in No Way Home, plus the letter. Peter then watches a video post from Ned and MJ, which transitions to him sitting upside down on a beam in his Spider-Man suit.
Ready for action, he goes to the edge of a building and falls off to help with a fire at a public facility. Brand New Day’s opening scene ends as he swings away, and a montage begins. Several glimpses of the opening scene are featured in the first trailer, showing just how much Marvel and Sony are still keeping under wraps.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Includes A Multi-Year Time Jump
Jon Berthnal as The Punisher in Spider-Man Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s MCU timeline setting was previously revealed as being four years after No Way Home thanks to an official synopsis. Cretton confirmed to us that the main story does take place that long after, but the whole film does not. The script states that the opening scene happens nine months after No Way Home’s ending.
It appears that the montage after Brand New Day’s opening scene will be used to depict three years’ worth of events, jumping the film from that point to its primary placement. Everything Peter is feeling after just nine months of being alone will have years to amplify and get worse.
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01
Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?
AAvengers: Age of Ultron
BCaptain America: Civil War
CSpider-Man: Homecoming
DAvengers: Infinity War
✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.
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02
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?
AThe Vulture (Adrian Toomes)
BThe Shocker (Herman Schultz)
CThe Scorpion (Mac Gargan)
DThe Tinkerer (Phineas Mason)
✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.
✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.
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03
Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?
AFriday
BEdith
CKaren
DJocasta
✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.
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04
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?
AWilliam Ginter Riva
BAldrich Killian
CJustin Hammer
DQuentin Beck
✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.
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05
In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?
AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood
BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker
CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator
DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London
✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.
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06
With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?
AWong
BWanda Maximoff
CDoctor Strange
DKarl Mordo
✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.
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07
Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?
ANed Leeds
BFlash Thompson
CHarry Osborn
DMiles Morales
✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”
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08
At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?
AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him
BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely
CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently
DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is
✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.
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It’s likely only after the time jump that Peter will cross paths with The Punisher, seek out help from Bruce Banner, and cross paths with Sadie Sink’s mystery character.
The Reason For Spider-Man’s Physical Transformation
Tom Holland as Peter Parker freaking out while hanging in the air webbed in Spider-Man Brand New Day
As teased by the trailer, Peter undergoes a physical transformation/mutation in Brand New Day. His senses are out of whack, he’s passing out, he has organic webbing, and he’s waking up in a webbed cocoon. While the nature of these changes was open to theorizing before, the true cause of it all is now known.
The script notes that Peter gets a “small, sharp headache” almost right away. This is meant to act as an early sign that his lonely lifestyle is hurting his health. The screenplay writes, “something is changing, and maybe not for the better.” Cretton also teased this development in our interview:
His isolation has some unexpected consequences that will complicate everything in his life.
Peter Parker Doesn’t Have Any Stark Tech In Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man getting scanned by a machine in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
One of the major criticisms of the MCU’s Spider-Man since he was introduced in Captain America: Civil War, was the reliance on Stark tech. With Tony as a mentor, the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist was responsible for creating many of Spider-Man’s costumes. We already knew that Peter had made his new suit, but whether he still had any Stark Industries connections was unclear.
The script confirms that every piece of technology that Spider-Man uses in Brand New Day comes from him, not Tony Stark. Cretton annotates, “No more Stark money or gadgets. All of his tech needs to have been made by Peter.”
This can be seen with Peter’s fabricator, described as being “something that could be made by a kid genius with limited funds,” and a new batch of web-shooters he designed. This will be his opportunity to remind everyone that he’s brilliantly smart and can make anything he needs.
Spider-Man Has A New AI Assistant
The loss of Stark tech also means that Spider-Man will say goodbye to his former AI program, F.R.I.D.A.Y., which was created by Tony, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, and has been part of his suits since Spider-Man: Homecoming. Rather than completely losing that component, Peter has instead created a new AI assistant known as E.V.
He might have lost F.R.I.D.A.Y., but Peter clearly was not ready to go back to superhero duties without some aid. Cretton notes in the script annotations that his AI is “sadly, the closest thing Peter has to a friend.” Ouch. It’s no wonder he’ll really struggle to fight the urge to reconnect with MJ and Ned once they are back within reach.
Spider-Man’s New Suit Is Inspired By Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men
Peter has a brand new suit for this adventure, one that has drawn comparisons to those worn by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield since the moment it was revealed. It should come as no surprise that this was not a coincidence. The Brand New Day script says the suit is “inspired by his encounter with Toby’s and Andrew’s Spider-Men.”
It’s not just the look of the suit that is inspired by them, though. The movie is making an effort to make Spider-Man’s suit feel as real as theirs by using real fabric to make it and leaving in seams and wrinkles. This has already been noticed through the Spider-Man: Brand New Day footage we’ve seen, but this confirms that it is an intentional design choice, rather than something Marvel could digitally clean up further on in post-production.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton