Spider-Man is not only one of the best superheroes ever created, but he also has one of the most iconic rogues' galleries ever. The wall-crawler has faced no shortage of memorable villains over the years in comic book pages, and some of them have been so popular that they even made their way to the big screen.
Recently, we witnessed 5 different bad guys team up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to fight Tom Holland's Peter Parker and his multiversal counterparts. That's why fans have been asking the same questions for quite some time now: How can you top that? Who will be the main antagonist in the hero's next movie?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is upon us, and expectations couldn't be any higher; director Destin Daniel Cretton opted to film some sequences on location, a street-level storyline will take the spotlight, and iconic villains like Scorpion and Tombstone are confirmed to make an appearance. Despite that, no one is sure who the big bad of Brand New Day will be (not even scoopers). Fortunately, a new report might put us on the right path towards solving this riddle.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day villain will reportedly have the ability to mind-control people
According to insider Daniel Richtman, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will feature a sequence where Spidey and Punisher will battle "mind-controlled Damage Control Agents who are trying to break Scorpion out of prison". Interestingly enough, this "mind-control" tidbit falls in line with a different report that claims "someone" will awaken Savage Hulk and use the monster as a diversion. At this point, it's clear the movie's villain will be able to influence people with his powers, but who is it?
All evidence would suggest that Mr. Negative will finally make his live-action debut. After all, it's worth keeping in mind that a different rumor indicates that Spidey will get to fight an army of ninjas at some point in the movie. These unnamed foes could very well be the Inner Demons, who act under the influence of Martin Li. Last, but certainly not least, fans are convinced that a tank seen in the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has an Inner Demons logo.
To add more fuel to the fire, it's important to remember that Mr. Negative was first introduced during the Brand New Day comic book storyline, which is also the title of the wall-crawler's upcoming movie. Besides, Martin Li would be perfect for a street-level storyline, which is what Marvel is aiming to do. Last, but certainly not least, the iconic villain is the head of F.E.A.S.T., the very same non-profit organization Aunt May used to work in, which would add another layer of depth to his relationship with Peter Parker.
But even if every piece of evidence suggests that it is Mr. Negative's chance to shine, many insiders have reported that he is not in the movie. If that turns out to be true, the character's absence leaves a big question mark in the air. Who else could be able to mind-control people, lead an army of ninjas, awaken Savage Hulk, get the Punisher's attention, and potentially start a gang war in New York? Well, perhaps it is not a single individual, but an organization as a whole.
The last time we saw The Hand in a live-action project was during the Netflix miniseries The Defenders. While they haven't had a chance to show their full potential in the MCU just yet, that might be about to change. The Hand could unleash a full coordinated attack across New York that would be sure to get Frank Castle's attention. They could've brought to life Damage Control agents who have died throughout the many tragedies that have unfolded in the MCU, making them their new henchmen. Besides, they might be the reason why Spider-Man and Daredevil will reportedly team up further down the road.
Even if Mr. Negative seemed like an obvious choice for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we'll have to wait and see what surprises director Destin Daniel Cretton has prepared for us. Fortunately, the first teaser trailer for the wall-crawler's next movie is rumored to be released this December, so we might not have to wait long to get some much-needed answers.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on July 31, 2026.