The world has forgotten he exists, his closest friends have moved on, and the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has devoted himself to protecting New York as an anonymous vigilante.
Set four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows Tom Holland’s Spider-Man as he enters a new phase of his life, leaving behind high school for adulthood marked by isolation and new challenges.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures film opens in theaters Friday. It is Holland’s fourth standalone Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first in the series not directed by Jon Watts.
Cretton, who previously directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, brings a new creative approach to a story centered on Peter Parker grappling with the consequences of his sacrifices.
In the film, Parker lives alone in a modest apartment while working full time as Spider-Man. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon reprise their roles as MJ and Ned, who have continued their lives without any memory of Parker.
New additions to the cast include Sadie Sink in an undisclosed role, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, and Michael Mando returning as Mac Gargan, also known as Scorpion.
The movie gets its title from the 2008 Marvel Comics storyline “Brand New Day,” which picked up after “One More Day.” In the comics, Peter Parker makes a deal with the demon Mephisto that wipes his marriage to Mary Jane Watson and restores his secret identity. The film borrows that same fresh-start premise after a memory wipe, though it isn’t a direct page-to-screen adaptation.
Tom Holland has said in interviews that this film is a more emotional and mature chapter, exploring identity, loss, and what it costs to be a hero.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes as Marvel Studios keeps growing the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the huge success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which made almost $2 billion worldwide. Filming finished in late 2025 in England and Scotland. The movie runs for 145 minutes and is rated PG-13.
The story includes things comic book fans will recognize, like new changes in Spider-Man’s abilities that are similar to earlier stories. Still, the filmmakers focus on Peter Parker’s personal struggles and relationships.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is both a new beginning for the character and a link to future Marvel Cinematic Universe stories. Holland has said he would be happy to keep playing Spider-Man if he gets the chance.
