There's no denying that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be a truly memorable experience. While the project will mark the eighth live-action stand-alone movie featuring the wall-crawler (taking into account Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's sagas), it's the first time everyone seems to agree that the beloved hero suddenly feels real. It's as if the same character that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created back in 1962 suddenly jumped out of comic book pages and now walks (or swings?) among day-to-day citizens.
Part of the magic stems from the fact that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is being filmed on location. We've all seen the jaw-dropping video of Spidey swinging between buildings while a big explosion happens in the background, as well as those set pictures of him trying to stop a literal tank from wreaking havoc in the city. It looks like a very surreal experience, not only for the fans who got to witness those scenes in person, but also for anyone involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.
Fortunately, Tom Holland has opened up about what it has felt like putting on the suit again under a new direction, and it appears we might be in for something truly spectacular.
Tom Holland says it's been exciting, exhilarating, and fresh to film Spider-Man: Brand New Day
During an interview with AFP (via Barron's), Tom Holland revealed what it's been like to work on Spider-Man: Brand New Day: "Yesterday, I was on top of a tank driving down the high street in Glasgow, in front of thousands of fans, and it was awesome. It was so incredible, it was exciting and exhilarating, and it felt fresh."
As its name indicates, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be all about new beginnings. The whole world has forgotten that Peter Parker ever existed, and, after Aunt May's passing, he has no family left. With that in mind, it's only fitting that a new director stepped into the saga to helm the movie. Destin Daniel Cretton filled in Jon Watts' previous spot, and he's looking to create a unique adventure unlike anything audiences have seen before. That idea is not only reflected in Destin's very practical way of filming the movie (which is fresh, according to Tom Holland), but also in the plot of the movie.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will pair its titular hero with characters he hadn't interacted with before in the MCU. Peter's patience will surely be tested when he meets Jon Bernthal's Punisher—someone who wouldn't think twice before sending a criminal to their grave. This will put Spidey in an interesting position we haven't really seen before, where he might not get along in the slightest with another big MCU icon.
Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova is also reported to appear in the movie, and she could prove to be an absolute perfect fit. She has also lost a big member of her family, has struggled with mental health, and has felt completely alone at some point in her life. She's one of the few people who could understand what Peter is going through after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and help him face these new problems he didn't really have before.
Last, but certainly not least, Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner is also confirmed to have a role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It's still a mystery how he'll fit into the narrative, but rumor has it that he knows someone from Peter's past. That prospect is exciting, as the MCU hasn't really explored what happened to Richard and Mary Parker, or Uncle Ben. This would be another "first" for this iteration of the wall-crawler.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be a unique movie, even for a character who has been around for decades. The way it's being filmed is unlike anything fans have seen before, and even Tom Holland recognizes this. Furthermore, its plot can take Peter through a very "fresh" and personal journey where he not only comes to terms with everything that has happened before, but also swings higher than ever and becomes a hero willing to fight anyone (even Punisher) if it means standing for his beliefs. With a bit of luck, it won't be long before we learn more about what the wall-crawler will go through next year.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on Jul. 31, 2026.