The wait is over: Peter Parker has returned to screens! It has been over four years since the webslinger made his presence felt on Marvel Cinematic Universe fans and now he's back to do it again in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which picks up four years after the events of the previous Spidey film (2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home). And it's already looking like it's going to be the biggest movie of the year.
With fan anticipation at an all-time high and demand for another Spider-Man movie right up there with it, the film is shaping up to gross an incredible $800 million worldwide in its opening weekend - a result that would put it on par with the record-breaking Avengers movies. This - and the multitude of spoilers that have been circulating the internet - really highlights how ready MCU fans are for the film.
With that in mind, let's dive into some of the things you should know before heading into the next MCU film, specifically when it comes to the plot, The Punisher, and the placement in the MCU timeline.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set four years after Spider-Man: No Way Home
When does Spider-Man: Brand New Day take place in the MCU timeline? We're glad you asked, because that will very much factor into the plot of the movie. The upcoming film takes place four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, meaning that we're currently in the year 2028 on the MCU timeline.
Four years on, Peter Parker is still struggling with the lasting effects of Doctor Strange's spell to make everyone forget that he exists. Everybody loves Spider-Man, but nobody knows Peter Parker. With that, his best friends Ned and MJ Watson - the latter of whom also happens to be the love of his life - have moved on with their lives, completely forgetting that he existed.
This will, of course, play a major role in the story as Peter struggles to figure out how he fits into the world - and if he does - when the mask isn't on. And with that, he's alone, longing after MJ, and completely unaware of how to proceed with his own life outside of Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also set before Avengers: Doomsday, so when the Avengers' battle with Doctor Doom kicks off, we might actually know why Spidey isn't - or secretly is - involved in the upcoming MCU film.
The Punisher makes his MCU movie debut
Frank Castle is set to make his movie debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Punisher character has headlined his own movies before, but this will mark the first time that Jon Bernthal's portrayal of the hard-hitting vigilante will make its presence felt on the silver screen. And that's one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's biggest selling-points.
Bernthal is known for his gritty iteration of the character, with many considering him the definitive portrayal of the character. It's hard to argue with that, because ever since he made his debut in Netflix's Daredevil, he has starred in his own Netflix spinoff series (The Punisher), and even more recently reprised the role on Disney Plus revivals Daredevil: Born Again and The Punisher: One Last Kill, highlighting just how popular the character remains after a decade on our screens.
Seeing a TV-MA character join forces with the PG-13, family-friendly Spider-Man is going to make for an incredibly interesting dynamic and we're super excited to see how Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland bring the MCU characters' unique dynamic to life. Given their storied careers and proven chemistry, we're ready to see them in action!
The Hulk returns
It's been a long time coming, but the Hulk finally returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We don't just mean a physical comeback - yes, Mark Ruffalo does indeed reprise his role as Bruce Banner for the first time since 2022's She-Hulk: Attorney At Law - we mean a true comeback in every single way.
The trailers have been heavily reliant on Spider-Man doing battle with the Hulk, and this has been a revoltuonary experience for everyone - because, after years of the divisive "Professor Hulk" persona, we're going to see Bruce Banner completely lose control, letting the big green guy take complete control for the first time in years. And seeing him take on Spider-Man - and The Punisher - is going to make for one heck of a visual!!
The Hulk will get involved for multiple reasons. He is seemingly drawn into the plot of the movie by Peter Parker himself, who reaches out to his old Avengers buddy for help with his new metamorphosis era. Although Banner doesn't remember him, he attempts to help him anyway. However, when the mysterious new villain (seemingly portrayed by Sadie Sink) manages to get inside his mind, Banner goes full angry mode, unleashing the full Hulk in a way we haven't seen since Thor: Ragnarok in 2017 (or, heck, maybe even 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron).
Sadie Sink's mystery character is at the heart of the film
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink makes her MCU debut in the highly-anticipated film but we still don't know who she is playing. Theories have ranged from X-Men legend Jean Grey to Mayday Parker, but we won't officially know who Sink is playing until she appears on our screens when we go out and see the film. That doesn't mean that we don't know what her involvement will be.
The trailers have heavily leaned into the notion of a brand new villain who can't be seen in the way that a traditional villain might be seen. She has unusual mutant-like abilities that allow her to jump her own consciousness into the minds of other characters, seeking out MJ to toy with Spider-Man and even getting inside the head of the Hulk. And this will lead Spider-Man, The Punisher, and maybe even the Hulk into a battle - and a mystery - as they attempt to figure out who she is, and what she wants.
It's almost time to solve the mystery of Sadie Sink's character - and we can't wait to find out who she is playing!
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in movie theaters on July 31, 2026.
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