Spider-Man’s newest movie isn’t holding back.Brand New Day, the next chapter inTom Holland’sMarvel/Sony run, is stacking its ensemble with major MCU icons and long-teased payoffs. THR is reporting thatMichael Mandowill return as Mac Gargan, aka Scorpion, marking his first appearance since a brief post-prison tease inSpider-Man: Homecomingback in 2017.
Mando’s return isn’t the only major casting headline.Mark Ruffalois officially back as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, his first big-screen appearance as the Green Goliath sinceAvengers: Endgame(excluding cameos inShang-ChiandShe-Hulk). Meanwhile,Jon Bernthalwill officially bring The Punisher into the MCU proper after years of Netflix anticipation — and this time, it’s on the big screen. With three of Marvel’s most intense personalities joining Holland’s Peter Parker, fans are already speculating about just how crowded — and explosive — this team-up will be.
Each HollandSpider-Manentryhas paired the wallcrawler with a more seasoned hero:Homecominghad Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.),Far From Homehad Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), andNo Way Hometurned Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) into Peter’s magical frenemy.Brand New Day, however, might be the most chaotic trio yet. Hulk. Punisher. Spider-Man. That’s not just a team-up — that’s a powder keg.
And with Mac Gargan thrown into the mix — who, in comics, dons the Scorpion suit and even becomes a host for Venom — the sequel is shaping up to be the darkest and most brutal Spidey movie yet. Mando, who wowed audiences inBetter Call Saulas the morally torn Nacho Varga, has the gravitas and menace to make good on a villain arc seven years in the making.
What Will ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Be About?
Plot details remain under wraps, but you may bet Marvel won’t skip tradition: the heroes will almost certainly fight each other first, misunderstanding the stakes before a bigger threat emerges. That’s the “mighty Marvel manner,” after all.Brand New Daymarks a few firsts and lasts. It’sJon Bernthal’s first big-screen appearance as The Punisherand Mark Ruffalo’s first full-fledged Hulk role in the post-EndgameMCU. While Ruffalo has cameo’d since (She-Hulk,Shang-Chi), this project marks a notable return to the action. It’s also a new opportunity to show Banner’s dynamic outside the Avengers, and maybe even tease storylines from the comics where Hulk and Spider-Man’s paths cross more frequently — often with lots of smashed scenery.
Directed byDestin Daniel Cretton(Shang-Chi), with returning scribesChris McKennaandErik Sommerspenning the script,Spider-Man: Brand New Dayis set to releaseJuly 31, 2026.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Source:THR
