The official announcement ofSpider-Man 4’s title has convinced me that a big MCU character will return alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. With the title now confirmed, thestory of the MCU’sSpider-Man 4can be better theorized. Since 2021 and theending ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, the character’s future in the MCU has been unclear, to say the least. Finally, though, Sony has put any worries to bed with the confirmation of a new MCU story in July 2026.
Tom Holland will return as the titular character, alongside a popular newcomer to the franchise givenSadie Sink’s casting inSpider-Man 4. Before the announcement of the film’s title, audiences were not sure exactly whether the film would be a multiversal story or a refresh for Peter Parker as a street-level MCU hero. Now that the title of theupcomingSpider-Manmoviehas been confirmed, however, Marvel Comics fans have been providing more insight into what the story could entail, convincing me that one big Marvel character will make their return in the 2026 project.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Was Revealed To Be The Title Of Spider-Man 4
Named After A Well-Known Comic Book Storyline
At CinemaCon 2025, Sony Pictures hosted a panel that gave insight into the upcomingSpider-Manmovies in development. Director Destin Daniel Cretton and Tom Holland made appearances, the latter via video, confirming the official title ofSpider-Man 4. As revealed,Spider-Man: Brand New Dayis the title of the next installment of the Web-Slinger’s MCU journey.Not only was it incredibly exciting to get this title and a release date, but the source material that links to the former hints at what the story could be about.
InBrand New Day, Peter’s Aunt May is killed in an assassination attempt, prompting the demon lord Mephisto to offer the young hero a deal…
The storyline of the same name was released by Marvel Comics in the late 2000s and stemmed from the massiveCivil Warevent that saw Peter Parker unveil his identity to the world. InOne More Day,Brand New Day’s predecessor, Peter’s Aunt May is killed in an assassination attempt, prompting the demon lord Mephisto to offer the young hero a deal: if he gives up his marriage to Mary Jane, Mephisto will bring Aunt May back. Peter agrees, promptingBrand New Dayto become essentially a soft reboot of Marvel Comics' various Spider-Man stories, hence the title.
Brand New Day’s Story Means J.K. Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson Is More Than Likely To Return In The Cast Of Spider-Man 4
Given His Comic Book Involvement
Although the MCU is likely to adapt many elements of this storyline differently, asSpider-Man: No Way Homedid withOne More Day,some aspects will likely be kept the same. One such aspect could be the inclusion of J. Jonah Jameson, played once more by J.K. Simmons. Simmons reprised his role as the Spider-Man-hating journalist inSpider-Man: Far From HomeandSpider-Man: No Way Home, and could easily do the same inSpider-Man: Brand New Day. The reason for this is Jameson’s role in theBrand New Daycomic book storyline.
Spider-Man 4: J. Jonah Jameson MCU Return Chances Addressed By J.K. Simmons
J.K. Simmons reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson in two MCU Spider-Man films, and he recently addressed whether he’ll be returning for more.
While J. Jonah Jameson does not have a massive role inBrand New Day, he still has a somewhat important subplot. The drastic changes in Peter’s life resulted in him not selling as many pictures of Spider-Man to the Daily Bugle, causing the paper to lose profit. Eventually, Jameson suffered a buyout at the hands of a businessman named Dexter Bennett, eventually suffering two heart attacks from the stress. With this in mind,the MCU’sSpider-Man: Brand New Dayhas the perfect excuse to bring back J.K. Simmons as the character.
Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Ending Means Being Able To Bring Back Another MCU Spider-Man Character In Brand New Day Is A Huge Benefit
If J.K. Simmons does return inSpider-Man: Brand New Day, this will be a huge boost to the film afterSpider-Man: No Way Home’s ending. The 2021 film ended with Peter Parker completely alone given that everyone on Earth had forgotten he existed, including his best friend Ned and girlfriend MJ. This teased the possibility of a soft reboot - like the comics’Brand New Day- inSpider-Man 4, which seems to be coming to fruition. Despite Zendaya being rumored to return as MJ, it is unlikely she will have as big a role as she did in the first three movies.
When combining this with the loss of Ned, Aunt May, and any other characters who knew Peter,Spider-Man: Brand New Daycould be too much of a reset for general audiences. That said, the return of J. Jonah Jameson would provide a welcome, familiar face as part of the story in the form of a fan-favorite character. This would allowSpider-Man: Brand New Dayto hold at least one firm connection to the original three movies beyond Holland’s Peter Parker, rendering J. Jonah Jameson’s return all the more logical.
