Marvel has a history of treating its stars like chess pieces in a game of endless sequels and spin-offs.

Chris Evans had a glorious run as Steve Rogers, but now that the franchise is pivoting to new faces and new stories, one can’t help but wonder if Marvel’s decision to move forward without him feels a little, well, cold. Evans recently opened up about his exclusion from Avengers: Doomsday, and his words were tinged with a kind of bittersweet sadness that fans are already interpreting as a subtle dig at Marvel’s decision-making.

Speaking with Screenrant for his movie Materialists — a project that pairs him with Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal — Evans was asked the inevitable question about his absence from the MCU’s next big team-up movie. His response was candid, heartfelt, and yes, a little heartbreaking. While he didn’t outright criticize Marvel, Evans itted that it’s tough to watch from the sidelines as his former collaborators — the Russo Brothers, who directed some of the most beloved MCU films, and Robert Downey Jr., who’s returning as Doctor Doom —gear up for another Marvel blockbuster. “It’s sad to not be back with the band,” he said, summing up what so many fans have been feeling since his departure.

When Steve Rogers handed over his iconic shield to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) at the end of Avengers: Endgame, it was meant to be a definitive goodbye. Evans himself has spoken about wanting to leave the character on a high note, rather than overstaying his welcome. And to his credit, Endgame gave Steve Rogers a perfect send-off — a poignant, time-bending finale in which he chose love and a quiet life over endless battles.

But even the most definitive endings in Hollywood rarely stay that way. Over the past year, rumors have swirled about Evans potentially reprising his role in Avengers: Doomsday. Speculation reached a fever pitch when reports suggested that Evans and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) might make appearances together, sparking hopes that Steve Rogers would somehow be woven into the MCU’s next phase. Marvel, as always, remained tight-lipped, refusing to confirm or deny anything. And now, with Evans’ latest remarks, it seems those rumors were just that — rumors.

Still, it’s hard not to feel like something is missing when you consider what Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be. The Russo Brothers are returning to helm this new chapter. Robert Downey Jr., who defined the MCU’s early years as Tony Stark/Iron Man, is back — albeit in a different role as Doctor Doom. The film promises to be a nostalgic callback to the MCU’s glory days, which makes Evans’ absence all the more glaring.

Ana de Armas may be making the jump from spy thrillers to superhero spectacles as new reports suggest the actress is in discussions with Marvel Studios for a role in the Avengers: Doomsday. Industry scooper Daniel Richtman has reported that de Armas is currently in talks for an undisclosed role in the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe event film.

This potential casting represents a significant shift for de Armas, who has generally avoided major studio franchise projects throughout her career. Her most notable franchise appearance to date was a brief role in the James Bond film No Time to Die. The Cuban-Spanish actress has built her reputation on dramatic performances in films like Knives Out and Blonde, making this rumored Marvel involvement particularly noteworthy for both her career trajectory and the MCU’s expansion.

The potential casting adds to the growing speculation about a “well-known Marvel character” who is expected to play a significant role in both “Avengers: Doomsday” and its follow-up, “Avengers: Secret Wars.” While comic book fans initially theorized this character might be The Beyonder or Molecule Man, the possibility of De Armas’s involvement suggests the role could be a female hero or villain.

Marvel’s mysterious character could expand beyond Doomsday

Previous reports have indicated that Avengers: Doomsday will introduce a well-known Marvel character who will play a larger role in the subsequent Avengers: Secret Wars film. This character addition has led to widespread fan speculation about potential comic book figures making their MCU debut. Initially, many assumed this mystery character would be either The Beyonder or Molecule Man, both pivotal figures in the Secret Wars comic storyline.

However, the potential involvement of de Armas opens up new possibilities for this mysterious role. The character could easily be a female hero or villain from Marvel’s extensive roster, rather than the male comic book figures fans initially expected. This would align with Marvel’s continued efforts to diversify their character lineup and provide significant roles for established actresses.

The strategic importance of this casting extends beyond Doomsday itself. If de Armas is indeed being considered for the mystery character role, her involvement would likely continue into Secret Wars, making her a key player in the next phase of Marvel’s multiverse saga. This would represent a major commitment from both the actress and the studio, potentially spanning multiple years and films.

Avengers: Doomsday is already shaping up to be a significant event in the MCU timeline. The film will mark the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel universe, though this time he will portray the villainous Doctor Doom rather than his iconic Tony Stark character. The Russo Brothers are returning to direct after their successful run with previous Avengers films, including Infinity War and Endgame.

The film is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. Both projects represent Marvel’s ambitious plans for their multiverse storyline, bringing together characters from across different dimensions and timelines. If the de Armas casting rumors prove accurate, fans may have to wait until the film’s release to discover the full extent of her involvement, as Marvel has historically maintained strict secrecy around surprise character reveals.

We could be seeing Sadie Sink take the place of Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the Stranger Things star is rumored to be ing the MCU as a multiverse variant of none other than Gwen Stacy.

It’s been a tough few years for MCU Spider-Man fans. Can you believe it’s been nearly four whole years since we last saw Tom Holland’s web-slinging hero on the big screen? How the time flies. But at long last we’re seeing signs of life with Marvel gearing up for a fourth movie in 2026, and with the hype of a new Spidey instalment comes all the rumors and speculation we’re used to seeing.

The Sadie Sink rumor explored

The rumor has been attributed to Jeff Sneider, the same guy who claimed Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Doctor Doom two months before the announcement was made. If his source is right then that means we could be seeing Sink swing onto our screens as the new live-action Gwen Stacy.

While Sneider has proven himself to be reliable with leaks in the past he isn’t always spot on. Three months ago he was saying that Sink’s role in the MCU might be as an MJ variant. Prior to that he was claiming she was set to play Jean Grey. So let’s take what this guy says with a grain of salt. It certainly sounds like Sadie Sink will be appearing in the MCU in some capacity, but the exact details of her role are somewhat vague right now.

Fan reactions to the news ranged from excitement, with some saying she’s perfect for the role, to confusion, with one person noting that she has “been rumored so far to be playing 10 different characters.”

What does this mean for Zendaya?

We have plenty of questions about this casting of course. First of all, will Sink be playing regular Gwen Stacy or Spider-Gwen? If it’s the former then that would make her a potential love interest to Peter Parker. So what would that mean for Zendaya’s MJ? 

The truth is we just don’t know right now. It’s not even confirmed that this is 100% the role Sadie Sink will be playing in the Spider-Man film. In all honesty even if Sink does the cast as Gwen there will probably always be room for Zendaya/MJ. Her character is pretty much integral to every Spider-Man story and it’s hard to imagine Marvel giving us a Spider-Man story without Tom Holland and Zendaya. 

Let’s not forget the fact that the two are also engaged in real life making it even more unlikely that Marvel would keep them separate on-screen. Either way, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics of this iteration of Peter Parker and MJ shift with the potential addition of Gwen Stacy.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised for a significant shift in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As the teaser trailer reveals, Baby Franklin Richards, a character often depicted as the most powerful in Marvel Comics, will appear.

This development raises questions about the future of Captain Marvel, another character often considered among the MCU’s most formidable heroes.

Baby Franklin: The MCU’s new powerhouse?

Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) and Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), possesses reality-warping abilities. Those include creating pocket universes and manipulating matter and energy on a cosmic scale. His powers have drawn the attention of cosmic entities like Galactus and the Celestials. Those baddies consider him on par with themselves, which says a lot.

In the film, Vanessa Kirby portrays Sue Storm, and early word suggests that Franklin’s birth and potential powers will be central to the plot. The introduction of a character with such immense capabilities could mean a new direction in the MCU’s power rankings.

Captain Marvel’s waning presence

Captain Marvel, portrayed by Brie Larson, was introduced as a major force in the MCU with her 2019 solo film, which grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide. However, her prominence has diminished in recent years. She was notably absent from several key MCU films and had a limited role in Avengers: Endgame.

The 2023 sequel, The Marvels, failed to replicate the success of its predecessor, earning just $206 million globally against a production budget of $374 million, making it the lowest-grossing film in the MCU. Factors contributing to its underperformance include a convoluted storyline only fans steeped in Disney+ MCU lore could understand, and limited promotional efforts due to industry strikes.

As for Larson, she’s noncommittal about her future in the MCU, stating she doesn’t “have anything to say” regarding projects. The Marvels’ poor reception, general controversy surrounding Larson and her character, and the introduction of her rival in the MCU power rankings, Baby Franklin, could further redefine Captain Marvel’s role in future movies.

However, as Marvel fans know, Captain Marvel and Baby Franklin aren’t necessarily in direct competition in the narrative sense.

A strategic shift in the MCU?

That said, and though it’s too soon to tell, the introduction of Baby Franklin could signify Marvel Studios’ intent to redefine the hierarchy of power within the MCU. By bringing in a character whose abilities sur those of existing heroes, the studio may be setting the stage for new narratives that move away from established figures like Captain Marvel.

This transition aligns with broader changes within Marvel Studios, which is reevaluating its approach following several underperforming projects. The studio is reportedly focusing on fewer, higher-quality productions and integrating new characters to rejuvenate the franchise.

No matter what, Baby Franklin’s debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks a pivotal moment for the MCU, potentially heralding a new era of storytelling centered around characters with unprecedented powers.

This development, alongside the declining prominence of Captain Marvel, suggests a strategic shift in the franchise’s direction, aiming to captivate audiences with fresh narratives and dynamic heroes. Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 25, 2025.

Marvel Studios is desperate for another billion-dollar hit and all eyes are on Avengers: Doomsday. This boasts a star-studded cast that rivals Endgame, the MCU comeback of Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom, and more costumed heroes than you can shake a multiverse at.

On top of that, if it’s anything like Infinity War, the events of Doomsday will change the MCU forever. Almost anything can happen, though the characters played by actors at the end of their contracts may have to face the power and magic of one Victor von Doom. And now, courtesy of a morbid Instagram post, one hero has shot to the top of our death list:

Thor might die in Avengers: Doomsday

Chris Hemsworth’s latest statement carries a tone of finality. pic.twitter.com/az0KHLeSYE

— Mohammed Ihsan (@ihsan21792) May 29, 2025

Hemsworth discussing about playing Thor in the past tense certainly sounds ominous and though he almost certainly still has scenes to shoot in Doomsday, he may have received the plot outline containing his death early and felt the need to send a message to fans.

Thor dying in Doomsday also makes a lot of sense. Over the last 14 years, there have been four Thor solo movies and Hemsworth has made five appearances in ensemble movies – meaning he’s had to keep in God of Thunder shape for a long time. That takes its toll on an actor, and we’re betting Hemsworth is more than ready to ease off the superhero physical training regime and enjoy life a little.

Hemsworth’s health

More pointedly, back in 2022, Hemsworth revealed he’d discovered he has a gene that makes him eight to ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than the average person. Discovering this made him reevaluate his life and career, telling Vanity Fair:

“It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off. … Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”

Who can blame him for wanting to jump off the Marvel Studios superhero hamster wheel and kick back to spend some quality time with his family? Even so, if Thor’s days are numbered, we’re sure Doomsday will send him out with a bang – likely at the hands of Doctor Doom himself.

If you’re skeptical that Doom has the power to take out an Asgardian think again, Doom is at least as powerful as Doctor Strange, an incredibly talented physical combatant and a technological genius. Doom will know how to take down Thor, and he won’t hesitate to deliver a killing blow.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on Dec. 18, 2026.

According to the whispers making their way, Marvel Studios is reportedly eyeing Emma Myers to play Gwen Stacy in the MCU film Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the highly anticipated fourth installment in the MCU’s Spider-Man series, with Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker and Zendaya reprising her role as MJ. The film is expected to pick up where Spider-Man: No Way Home left off, with Peter Parker essentially erased from the lives of everyone he loves. MJ has no memory of him, Ned is off living his best life, and Peter is left swinging solo, trying to figure out what his next chapter looks like.

This setup presents the perfect opportunity to introduce Gwen Stacy. With MJ no longer in the picture (at least romantically, for now), Gwen could enter as a fresh new presence in Peter’s life. And if Marvel decides to lean into the multiverse chaos introduced in No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there’s even a chance we could see the Spider-Gwen version of the character, which would be a game-changer for the MCU.

Casting rumors in the MCU are as common as Stan Lee cameos used to be: everywhere, all the time. But Myers has a few things working in her favor. First, let’s talk about her breakout role in Wednesday. Myers played Enid Sinclair, the bubbly, pastel-loving werewolf who won hearts as the perfect counterbalance to Jenna Ortega’s brooding Wednesday Addams. Her performance not only showcased her ability to shine alongside a powerhouse lead but also proved she could bring depth and likability to a role that could’ve easily been one-dimensional. This kind of charisma is exactly what a character like Gwen Stacy demands.

Myers has openly expressed interest in playing Gwen Stacy, particularly Spider-Gwen, the multiverse version of the character who dons her own web-slinging suit. 

Here’s where things get tricky. While Marvel has creative control over Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Sony still owns the rights to many of the characters in Spidey’s world, including Gwen Stacy. And let’s not forget, Sony already has their own wildly successful Gwen in the form of Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen from the Spider-Verse animated films. With Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and its sequel Beyond the Spider-Verse cementing Steinfeld’s Gwen as a fan favorite, Sony might be hesitant to let Marvel introduce another live-action Gwen Stacy into the mix.

But there’s another angle to consider. If Sony and Marvel can come to some sort of agreement (as they did with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man), introducing Gwen Stacy in Brand New Day could benefit both studios. Marvel gets to expand its Spider-Man storyline, while Sony gets to keep the character relevant for their own projects. It’s a win-win—assuming everyone can play nice, of course.

The MCU is reportedly eyeing Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston to lead their new X-Men team. Cranston is rumored to play Charles Xavier — the leader of the mutant academy and de facto soul of the entire franchise.

Some fans were excited by the news of this possibility. The source of the rumor is MyTimeToShineHello. Usually, there are a lot of rumors leading up to new MCU releases or casting announcements, and most fans tend to ignore them. But it’s different with this particular source. It’s worth noting that this was the same insider who first announced that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire would enter Spider-Man: No Way Home via a portal — well before it was even confirmed that the two would be in the movie. So there’s certainly some credibility to their past leaks. Hopefully they can give us some Spider-Man: Brand New Day leaks soon too.

Bryan Cranston is reportedly being eyed to play Charles Xavier in the MCU.

(Via: MyTimeToShineHello) pic.twitter.com/hrmOMvwicZ

— Marvel Updates (@marvel_updat3s) May 27, 2025

As for Cranston, while there’s a temptation to dismiss the excitement as people just wanting to see him bald again, he arguably embodies Xavier more than he ever did Walter White. White was Cranston playing against type — that’s what made that performance so captivating. With every ing episode, White got a little worse. But when you watch Cranston in interviews — especially the ones where he gets ionate about politics — he’s actually a very convincing orator. And considering Xavier’s main strength is talking both heroes and villains off the ledge, this suggests Cranston could be a worthy successor to Sir Patrick Stewart. Many fans seem to feel that exact same way, with some posting photoshopped images of Cranston as Xavier and boldly proclaiming, “Let him cook!”

Let him cook pic.twitter.com/xzMkYOoHZD

— Blockchain Disrupt (@bchaindisrupt) May 28, 2025

But there’s also a much less discussed aspect to this potential casting: weren’t these movies working best when they hired actors? One social media expressed how tired they were of seeing the “same faces.”

I miss when they went out of their way to hire up and coming actors. Stop recycling the guys with amazing careers, give us someone new for once. Tired of seeing the same actors in everything I see

— Benjamin. (@bheadr75) May 27, 2025

When the MCU grew into the force it is today, it got there through relatively less popular (at the time) names like Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth. These are household names now, but let’s not get it twisted — they weren’t before the MCU shone a light on their talent. Now, the franchise casts the Angelina Jolies and Christian Bales of the world. This shift in strategy has yielded very diminishing returns. There’s a specific way these movies work, and that’s by making the superhero the biggest star in the room. They’re meant to be bigger than any one movie — as they recur across franchises — and certainly bigger than any one particular movie star. Movie stars will always have their place in the greater cinematic landscape, but we probably don’t need Tom Hanks to be the next Magneto.

And besides, there’s the question of how long these films take to wrap. A movie star disappearing into the vast workings of Kevin Feige’s universe for the greater part of a decade, while not doing the kind of work we’d probably prefer seeing them in — the kind that opens the Cannes Film Festival or brings home an Oscar — is a real concern. For instance, does anyone really need Timothée Chalamet to appear in the MCU as the next Cyclops, or would that just be distracting?

If the formula isn’t broken, don’t fix it, Marvel.

Disney ants have pulled off something even Thanos couldn’t: kill off Hawkeye.

Jeremy Renner stopped by High Performance for an interview, and the inevitable question came up — would he reprise his most iconic role as Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye? Renner didn’t mince words. He called the entire situation “disheartening.” He asserted that a contract dispute with Disney’s “penny pinchers” means he’s letting the role go for the foreseeable future.

At this point, it’s no secret that, culturally speaking, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going through a lack of fresh, engaging ideas. The recent five-hour stream of empty director chairs revealing the cast of Avengers: Doomsday is a prime example. Perhaps the franchise got too big, and the ideas too many and convoluted to fit into the public consciousness. And it’s not just fan cynicism either — the producers of the Marvel machine have been feeling the pinch as well. Marvel President Kevin Feige himself was quoted in TIME, saying it’s been hard lately for them to capture the zeitgeist because they release too much product.

So there’s a reasonable assumption to make: Hawkeye Season 1 didn’t earn as much as expected. And that caused them to offer Jeremy Renner half the pay for Season 2. Or maybe they planned to give him a more secondary role as he eventually es the torch to a very capable Sinners star Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop. Regardless, Renner wasn’t having that. To the star, the offer felt insulting — especially coming so soon after his life-threatening snowmobile accident. Renner said:

“I’m like, ‘I’m sorry? Why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.’”

Considering Marvel is synonymous with box office success, you’d assume their financial compensation with stars is exemplary. But you’d be mistaken.

As early as Iron Man 2, actors like Terrence Howard were pushed out of the franchise over salary disputes. John Malkovich, set to debut in Fantastic Four: The First Steps, shared that he turned down the franchise multiple times due to lowballed offers.

Carrie Coon, too, said the only reason she didn’t return for Avengers: Endgame was a lack of a salary increase. She even claimed people would be “surprised” by Marvel salaries. And if her performance in the last episode of The White Lotus is anything to go by — your loss, Marvel.

Luckily, however, it seems Feige is learning from past mistakes. In his acknowledgment that they may have flooded the market with too much product, he vowed to slow down and be more intentional going forward.

Unlike these other stars, Jeremy Renner is one of the founding faces of this franchise. Renner truly deserves to be treated as such. Because with every single complaint that reaches the fans, the goodwill Marvel has ridden on for nearly two decades chips a little bit more.

Marvel has yet to comment on the situation. The focus now is on Thunderbolts, which is getting glowing reviews from all the major publications. Perhaps Jeremy Renner leaving and Marvel injecting some new blood is best for everyone involved.

Alan Cumming, who fans love for playing Nightcrawler in 2003’s X2: X-Men United, is coming back to play the famous blue-skinned mutant in Marvel’s  Avengers: Doomsday. The actor recently shared how surprised and thrilled he is to step into the role again after twenty years, and he gave some details about how the movie is being made and what it’s like for him to return to such a tough part.

“Isn’t it nuts? It’s been 23 years since I was a superhero.” he said on Today with Jenna & Friends, “I’m going back to being a 60-year-old superhero, and everyone seems really lovely.” His comments have gotten a lot of attention. One of the most interesting things Cumming talked about was how much better the makeup process is now compared to when he first played Nightcrawler.

Cumming said, “What’s great about it was that before it was about four-and-a-half hours to apply it, but now it’s only 90 minutes.” This big improvement for Avengers: Doomsday comes from using stick-on tattoos instead of having them carefully painted on by hand. Cumming called this change a “game-changer,” and it sounds like it was a big reason he agreed to play the role again.

Nightcrawler is back in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

The actor also gave some useful updates on when Avengers: Doomsday is filming. According to Variety, he said he’s already done makeup tests and will start shooting soon, with plans to fly to London on April 6, 2025. This matches earlier reports that the movie began filming in March 2025, with an official start date of March 26, meaning the production is moving faster than many people expected.

Fans are really excited about Cumming’s return, especially since other original X-Men actors are coming back too. Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops) are all returning, which adds a lot of nostalgia and hype for longtime fans. There’s a lot of guessing about what Avengers: Doomsday will be about, and one popular idea is that the original X-Men team will be key players in a huge battle that might involve Doctor Doom.

The fact that so many classic characters are returning makes this theory seem even more likely, suggesting the story will be massive with high stakes. The movie’s cast is full of big names, including Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. With so many famous actors and familiar faces from past Marvel movies, this film is shaping up to be special.

With how huge Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be, bringing back fan-favorite characters and adding an incredible cast, there’s already a ton of excitement. Alan Cumming’s happy reaction and his behind-the-scenes updates have only made fans more eager. As the release date of May 1, 2026, gets closer, everyone is waiting to see Nightcrawler on screen again and to find out what part he’ll play in the next big Marvel story.

Fans have reacted to news of Spider-Man 4’s official title (no, it’s not Spider-Man 4), though some of them are less than impressed with the fact that it has broken a long-running tradition. 

In case you missed it, Sony revealed at its CinemaCon showcase earlier this week that the title of Tom Holland’s web-slinging flick is Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The announcement was preempted by director Destin Daniel Cretton, who recalled a story of his son’s first word being “Spider-Man” (child genius alert!) before presenting a video message from Holland. It was Peter Parker himself (or at least this timeline’s Peter) who first uttered the Brand New Day title into existence, with Holland offering a “massive thank you for all of your .” 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day July 31, 2026. pic.twitter.com/R6OY8tAHOb

— Spider-Man Movie (@SpiderManMovie) April 1, 2025

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fresh start,” the actor added, before describing the sequel as “a ride that we haven’t really seen before.” Holland’s talk of a fresh start is especially pertinent, since Brand New Day marks a delineation from the titles of the first three installments of Holland’s franchise, which all contained the word “home”. There was Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, followed by 2019’s Far From Home and the multiverse-jumping No Way Home in 2021. Naturally, since hell hath no fury like a Marvel fanatic scorned, the break in tradition garnered quite a few reactions. 

The recent one is so fucking bad the downfall is insane

— HARRYS HOUSE (@harryshouse3) April 1, 2025

“Why no more home names?” one fan questioned on X, with another describing it as the “weirdest movie title ever for a Spider-Man movie.” Elsewhere, other fans wondered whether “that’s the best [title] they could cook up,” or simply declared that “the downfall [of the franchise] is insane.” While there was some initial confusion around the reveal, comic book sleuths were quick to deduce that Brand New Day is a reference to a 2008 storyline that takes place after a universe-altering event in which everyone forgot who Spider-Man was.

Weirdest movie title ever for a Spider-Man movie

Makes me imagine that he’s getting up all chipper with a cup of coffee in his hand lol. Hope this is good.

— Kevin VL (@teslius) April 1, 2025

Why no more home names?

— Harsh Patel (@Harshpatel1408) April 1, 2025

The storyline attracted controversy at the time for effectively erasing Peter’s marriage to Mary Jane and wiping much of Peter’s personal development out of continuity. Marvel choosing this reference makes sense, since No Way Home ends with Doctor Strange erasing the world’s memory of Spider-Man’s identity. However, since Marvel hasn’t exactly stayed faithful to the comic books that inspire its titles, it remains to be seen whether Brand New Day will totally adhere to the storyline it pulls from. 

Not many people know No Way Home loosely adapted one of the worst Spider Man stories (One More Day) and mad it a banger. The follow up to that comic? Brand New Day. https://t.co/KrbNbHrLQc pic.twitter.com/ww4TmkngEX

— West Banks (@WestBANKS_) April 1, 2025

Whatever the case, the reveal of the title is simply the latest update ahead of Spider-4’s (sorry, Brand New Day’s) 2026 release date. Just this week, we learned that Tom Hardy’s Venom would not be delivering the crossover moment that fans had long hoped for, and before that, it was announced that Sadie Sink will appear in the four-quel, though her exact role remains unknown. Some fans have speculated the Stranger Things star will be introduced as Jean Grey from X-Men, but there’s more than a few redheaded mutants she could also portray. 

The Spider-Man: Brand New Day title is quite fitting as in Marvel Comics this arc represents a new beginning and a new status quo. It means back to basics, reset relationships, no Avengers, and I suspect, Harry Osborn. pic.twitter.com/oHFsEd4un2

— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) April 1, 2025

Elsewhere, we discovered that Andrew Garfield, who featured in No Way Home, has ruled out appearing in Brand New Day (or so he says), and learned that Holland had read the script for Spider-Man 4 with his girlfriend and co-star, Zendaya. It’s all a lot to digest, so I suggest you sleep on this news and wake up tomorrow on a Brand New Day (sorry, I had to).  

Well, well, well ⏤ Marvel Studios has decided to shake things up with its fourth Spider-Man installment, ditching a certain theme we’ve all grown accustomed to.

What’s the name of our new web-slinging adventure, you ask? It’s called Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That’s right: “home” is nowhere to be found in the title. Cue collective gasps, raised eyebrows, and fainting spells the world over. Tom Holland announced the news himself at CinemaCon 2025, leaving everyone expressing a similar sentiment.

For those who have been keeping score, the previous Spidey titles — Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home — have all nestled comfortably within the “home” motif. It served as a thematic thread that tied Peter Parker’s adventures together, reflecting his journey from aspiring wall-crawler to full-blown Avenger. Now that, uh, Brand New Day has been unveiled, more than a few onlookers have been left scratching their heads. Has Marvel had lost its thematic com, or is this just a case of title roulette?

The sticky Spidey reactions pour in

Given the announcement’s timing on April 1st, 2025 ⏤ aka April Fool’s Day ⏤ skepticism has been running rampant. Is Marvel playing an elaborate April Fool’s prank on us? Or is this genuinely the new direction for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man? Let’s just say people had as many questions as opinions, and no one wasted any time sounding off. This quickly led to the question of the moment: what happened to our old pal home?

“No more Home name">

At the end of the day, Marvel Studios is no stranger to keeping fans on their toes, and the Spider-Man: Brand New Day announcement is no exception. By breaking away from the “home” theme and aligning the film’s release with Avengers: Doomsday aftermath, the studio seems poised to take Peter Parker — and all of us — on a multiversal journey unlike any other. Whether this new day will shine bright or cast shadows remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: we’re getting another Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, and that alone is worth celebrating.

Spider-Man: No Way Home was a dream movie for wallcrawler fans, uniting all three big-screen Spideys for a truly jaw-dropping multiversal adventure. It ended with the bittersweet erasing of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker from everyone’s memory, though left him primed to begin a new superhero career as a self-made, street-level Spider-Man.

Now, finally, we know when we’re going to see this play out. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will release on Jul. 31, 2026, meaning it’ll come hot on the heels of Avengers: Doomsday, which lands on May 1, 2026.

Anyone who’s seen No Way Home will know the new status quo presents a literal “new day” for Peter Parker, but the specific phrase “Brand New Day” also refers to a 2008 comics run of the same name, which may give us some clues about what to expect from the plot. So, here’s how it goes down in Marvel Comics.

The ‘Brand New Day’ plot

This story follows immediately after the “One More Day” storyline, in which Peter Parker’s marriage to Mary-Jane Watson was erased by Mephisto, along with a soft reset of Spidey’s world. Now his secret identity is once again safe, Harry Osborn and Aunt May have returned from the dead, and Pete is sporting his mechanical webshooters.

“One More Day” is considered one of the all-time worst Spidey stories but, given that the MCU Spidey is also dealing with a reset of the status quo in which nobody knows his secret identity, a loose adaptation of “Brand New Day” makes sense.

The run also features several plot points we’d expect to see on screen. For example, in the comics, Parker realizes The Daily Bugle is in dire financial straits and is craving new Spidey pics to boost sales. J. Jonah Jameson actor JK Simmons has refused to confirm or deny whether he’s returning in Brand New Day, only saying “No spoilers. Sorry, I’m not telling”. That said, seeing Holland’s Spidey working for Jameson would be hilarious, so we hope it happens.

Thankfully for Zendaya fans, Mary Jane is also part of the comics’ storyline. Though she and Pete didn’t get married, they were in a long-term relationship that didn’t work out and are frosty towards each other. That won’t be the case in the MCU as Zendaya’s MJ has completely forgotten Pete, though we strongly suspect they’ll be back in each other’s arms by the time credits roll.

Mister Negative is from this story in the comics…what a peak evening. https://t.co/T7ncN8PAGL pic.twitter.com/2VoxWaiKdu

— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) April 1, 2025

There’s also a key villain who may feature in Brand New Day from the comics storyline. Most prominent is Martin Li/Mister Negative, who runs a homeless shelter but is secretly a crime boss with bizarre magical powers. His status as a villain was greatly boosted by a central appearance in the 2018 video game Marvel’s Spider-Man, so his leaping the MCU would make sense.

It’s also possible that Brand New Day is only taking the name and nothing else from the comics. After all, we expect Tom Holland to at least appear in Doomsday or Secret Wars in some capacity, and if the events of those movies are as world-changing as Infinity War/Endgame, we may find Spidey in a very different place than we left him at the end of No Way Home. Here’s hoping we get some more hints soon!