Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Release Date: July 31, 2026
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers
Cast:
• Tom Holland – Spider-Man/Peter Parker
• Zendaya – MJ
• Jacob Batalon – Ned
• Sadie Sink
• Liza Colon-Zayas
The last time we saw Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not only did no one know he was Spider-Man, everyone’s memory of Peter had been erased entirely. The Spider-Man: No Way Home climax culminated in Doctor Strange casting this spell as a way to end the multiversal mayhem. This leaves Peter more on his own compared with even his first solo outing – Spider-Man: Homecoming presented Spider-Man as an Iron Man protégé.
The title is borrowed from the late 2000’s comic book run that follows Mephisto altering reality and everyone forgetting that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. Therefore, Brand New Day is appropriate for a fourth MCU Spidey flick, where Peter is in a similar predicament.
It also leaves the door wide open for an array of possible Spider-Man storylines. The omission of Tom Holland on the Avengers: Doomsday cast list, which is now coming out after Brand New Day, could signify that the plot will be more of a standalone in terms of connectivity to the larger franchise, and may swing low-key when compared to Spidey’s previous adventures.
Filmmaker Jon Watts will be handing the sub-franchise over to Destin Daniel Cretton. Cretton is not a MCU newcomer, having helmed the impressive Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings several years ago. Cretton will also direct the pilot episode of the Disney Plus series Wonder Man, leading to the question of whether that egotistical superhuman will have a part to play in Spider-Man 4.
Clayface
Release Date: September 11, 2026
Director: James Watkins
Writers: Hossein Amini and Mike Flanagan
Cast: To be determined
Clayface does not currently have a star, or any actors for that matter, attached to it. One thing that has been confirmed, by James Gunn himself, is that although Clayface is a distinguished Batman villain, he will not be a part of Matt Reeves’ Batman catalog. It will also not fall under the DC Elseworlds brand, like the Joker movies. Clayface will live in the collective DC Universe, however, given the differences in disposition, the amount of cross over with heroes like Superman or Green Lantern may be extremely limited.
DC has options when it comes to the direction they want to take with this villainous/anti-hero. Clayface could resemble the Venom trilogy, which has an inherent comic relief element built into its tone (some would say it is too light for the quintessential Spider-Man antagonist). Alternatively, it can follow in the footsteps of a fellow DC headliner, Joker; bleak from beginning to end. Given the writer and directors’ proclivity for heavier horror, Clayface may lean toward the latter.
Casting would also depend on the approach James Gunn approves for Clayface. The most popular versions of the character so far have come in animated form. Ron Perlman voiced the foe in Batman: The Animated Series and episodes of Justice League. Perlman portrays a more tragic version of the former actor. Meanwhile, Alan Tudyk goes completely comical for his take on Clayface in the contemporary Harley Quinn show. In fact, Harley Quinn’s Clayface is at times so uproarious, it wouldn’t be surprising if that version influences the live-action movie.