Spider-Man: Brand New Day is due to spotlight both brand-new and returning actors to the MCU, with the already ample cast seeming to grow larger by the day. It will also be released after an uncharacteristically large gulf between MCU movies, currently slated for July 31, 2026, just over one year after The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

This should help to stoke enthusiasm for the upcoming Marvel movie at an integral time for the MCU, with a year’s reprieve sure to ameliorate the level of superhero fatigue afflicting some audiences. The fact that Spider-Man fronts one of the MCU’s most successful franchises should also work in its favor.

Despite taking place in the midst of the Multiverse Saga and immediately before the no doubt distinctly cosmic Avengers: Doomsday, it looks as though Spider-Man: Brand New Day will embody the street-level narrative that has largely eluded the MCU’s Spider-Man. This is indicated by the confirmed cast, who are primed to deliver some exciting interactions.

8

Tom Holland as Peter Parker

Active Since: 2010

Actor: Although Tom Holland’s acting career began in earnest with the UK version of Arrietty, he made waves with his breakthrough role as Lucas in 2012’s The Impossible. He would, of course, make an even greater splash as the MCU’s fresh-faced Spider-Man, before scoring a leading role in Uncharted and demonstrating his range with dramas like Cherry.

Character: Tom Holland made his exhilarating debut as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War, where he was recruited by Tony Stark and subsequently became his protégé. The MCU has since depicted his journey into adulthood through some particularly heartrending moments, including the death of his parental figures, Tony Stark and Aunt May.

Most recently, Peter Parker decided to remove himself from the memories of those he loves most in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now, Peter Parker is the most isolated he has ever been, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day soon to feature Peter at his most mature.

7

Zendaya as MJ

Active Since: 2011

Actor: Although Zendaya was a fairly prolific musician and TV actor since 2011, Spider-Man: Homecoming was her first feature film role. Since then, Zendaya has gone on to star in such prominent movies and TV shows as The Greatest Showman, Euphoria, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies, and the critically acclaimed Challengers.

Character: Zendaya portrays Peter Parker’s main love interest in the MCU, Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson. Her romance with Peter blossomed in Spider-Man: Far From Home before the two entered into a committed relationship, as seen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, where she and Ned Leeds helped Spider-Man directly.

Sadly, due to the danger this put her in, Peter Parker resolved to remove himself from her life after Doctor Strange cast the Runes of Kof-Kol, causing the whole world to forget him. It is therefore unclear what her role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be, though it may be diminished compared to previous outings.

6

Mark Ruffalo as Hulk

Active Since: 1989

Actor: Mark Ruffalo was well-established before being cast to replace Edward Norton as the MCU’s Bruce Banner. Ruffalo boasts a rare four Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor to his name. These were for his roles in The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher, Spotlight, and Poor Things.

Character: Bruce Banner hasn’t starred in his own movie since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton in the leading role. Instead, Bruce Banner’s MCU arc has been fleshed out in Avengers movies as well as Thor: Ragnarok and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Interestingly, he has had very little interaction with Peter Parker during that time.

This makes his role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day particularly mysterious. With Bruce Banner still embodying his “Smart Hulk” persona, a version of Hulk in which Bruce Banner’s mind occupies Hulk’s body, speculation suggests that Spider-Man: Brand New Day might somehow provoke the return of the “Savage Hulk” persona.

5

Jacob Batalon as Ned

Active Since: 2016

Actor: Jacob Batalon only starred in one movie, North Woods, before starring as Ned Leeds in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and earning worldwide recognition. Nevertheless, this remains his most prominent role, though he has also acted in such movies as The True Don Quixote, Shortcomings, and Lift, and starred in the TV show 50 States of Fright.

Character: Ned Leeds was Peter Parker’s high school best friend and “Man in the Chair” after discovering his superhero idenтιтy in Spider-Man: Homecoming​​​​​​. Like MJ, Ned was subjected to the memory-wiping spell that caused him to forget about Peter Parker, despite playing an important supportive role throughout Spider-Man’s MCU career until that point.

Leeds does, at least, maintain his friendship with MJ by the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, meaning the two will likely appear in tandem in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Beyond that, it is unclear if and how Peter Parker will restore Ned’s memories and reignite their friendship.

4

Jon Bernthal as Punisher

Active Since: 2002

Actor: Jon Bernthal embodied minor roles on such TV shows as CSI: Miami before scoring his breakthrough role as Shane Walsh in The Walking ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. He would go on to feature in high-profile movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Fury, and The Accountant, and has won a Primetime Emmy for his role in The Bear.

Character: Frank Castle/The Punisher began his MCU career in Daredevil in 2016 before going on to star in his own self-тιтled show. The Punisher is a violent vigilante who seeks to dole out lethal punishment to New York’s criminals following the brutal mᴀssacre of his family. This has put him at loggerheads with non-lethal New York heroes like Daredevil.

This should make for an interesting dynamic when the Punisher meets with the similarly anтιтhetical Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Whatever the case, the presence of the Punisher is one of the clearest indicators that the movie will be street-level, though the extent of his involvement remains to be seen.

3

Michael Mando as Scorpion

Active Since: 2009

Actor: Michael Mando is a prolific TV actor, though he also gained widespread recognition for portraying the renowned video game villain Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3. He has appeared in the TV shows The Bridge, Lost Girl, and The Killing, and in the movies Web of Lies, Make Your Move, and The Hummingbird Project.

Character: Michael Mando debuted as Mac Gargan in a minor role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where Spider-Man swiftly defeated him before he was taken to prison. It was here that Gargan featured in a seemingly forgotten MCU post-credits scene, setting up his rise as iconic Spider-Man villain, Scorpion. He will finally embody that role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

2

Sadie Sink

Active Since: 2013

Actor: Sadie Sink is best known for her breakthrough role as Max in the Stranger Things series, though she initially made waves on Broadway. Since making her mark, Sink has gone on to star in such movies as Eli, Dear Zoe, and the Fear Street film series.

Character: At the time of writing, Sadie Sink’s role has yet to be confirmed in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, despite the actress being among the first announced to be involved. Prevailing theories suggest that Sink could be portraying Jean Grey, Mayday Parker, or Gwen Stacy. Until further story details for Spider-Man: Brand New Day are confirmed, however, this is pure speculation.

1

Liza Colón-Zayas

Active Since: 1994

Actor: Liza Colón-Zayas starred alongside fellow Spider-Man: Brand New Day actor Jon Bernthal in The Bear, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award. Colón-Zayas boasts a rich back catalog of TV shows and movies, starring in such productions as Sєx and the City, United 93, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and The Purge: Election Year.

Character: Like Sadie Sink, little is known about the character Liza Colón-Zayas is portraying in Spider-Man: Brand New Day at the time of writing. Prevailing theories suggest that she will portray Rio Morales, Miles Morales’ mother, though these theories are undermined by the fact that Miles currently stars in Sony’s Spider-Verse series.