Spider-Man: Brand New Day story details 'revealed' and fans are shocked

To say Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been recently making waves would be an understatement. Every new report about the wall-crawler's upcoming adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe paints an even crazier picture of what it will be about. To take things a step further, it was recently confirmed that Jon Bernthal's Punisher is set to make an appearance next to Tom Holland's Spidey — making for a bizarre (yet amazing) team-up that very few could've seen coming.

But while fans are wondering if Peter will get along with someone who likes to permanently take criminals out of the picture, a bigger question to ponder is: Why would the two need to join forces? Many have theorized that this is part of a bigger Devil's Reign storyline, where multiple heroes come together to rise against the Kingpin and his new role as the Mayor of New York. After all, the finale of Daredevil: Born Again includes a Spider-Man easter egg that might foreshadow this hypothetical crossover. However, it seems the real answer might be even more shocking than anyone could've anticipated.

Punisher and Spider-Man will team up to fight Savage Hulk in Brand New Day

According to renowned and reliable industry insider Daniel Richtman, the wall-crawler and Punisher will team up so that the two heroes can put a stop to Savage Hulk. This report falls in line with multiple rumors we've heard about Bruce Banner appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Way, and potentially knowing someone from Peter's past (with our best bet being Richard and Mary Parker, or Uncle Ben).

It's worth pointing out that Brett Pawlak, who'll be the director of photography for the web-slinger's upcoming adventure, has recently saved multiple Spidey illustrations on his personal Pinterest account (likely as a source of inspiration for the movie). Well, one of the arts features Savage Hulk, while another showcases the green monster in his "normal" form. Of course, the internet took this as a potential confirmation that Hulk will appear in the movie, and Brett has since made his account private, which only added more fuel to the fire. At this point, it's all but confirmed that Peter will share the screen with multiple iconic heroes.

So does that mean that Spider-Man: Brand New Day isn't going to be a grounded story with street-level villains, as it was once reported? Well, not exactly. See, it appears that the Savage Hulk's debut and the Punisher's presence in the movie will be tied to the same antagonist. According to scooper That REDACTED Guy via X (formerly Twitter), there will be a gang war taking place in New York, and both Frank Castle and Peter Parker will attempt to put a stop to it. However, an unconfirmed villain will use the Savage Hulk as a diversion to stall" the two heroes. But who could have the power to turn a very calm Professor Hulk into a weapon of mass destruction?

Ever since the official title for Spider-Man 4 was revealed to be Brand New Day, many took it as a hint that Martin Li would finally have his big-screen debut. After all, his first full appearance took place in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 546, which is also known for being the beginning of the Brand New Day arc in comic book pages. Furthermore, multiple reports and casting rumors have reinforced the idea that Mr. Negative is coming. With that in mind, it wouldn't be too far-fetched that he'll be responsible for "creating" the Savage Hulk persona.

Mr. Negative would also make thematic sense as a villain, given that he runs the F.E.A.S.T. shelter in comic books, which is the same place where Aunt May volunteered before her big-screen passing in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Peter could then try to follow her lead by volunteering for the same organization, only to meet Martin Li and share stories about May. After all, Martin would likely have some fond memories of her. We all know that a Spider-Man story works best when its titular hero has a personal connection with its titular antagonist, and this would be the perfect way to achieve it.

All things considered, it seems that Savage Hulk will be a secondary villain in the movie, and both Punisher and Spidey will try to stop him from rampaging in New York. All the meanwhile, a bigger gang war will take place on the forefront, and Mr. Negative will be right at the center of it. With a bit of luck, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will manage to balance all of its characters and plots in a satisfying way, making for an amazing street-level story in the process.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on July 31, 2026.