Hulk's comeback confirmed in upcoming Spider-Man 4 film
In a thrilling turn of events, the production for the latest instalment of the Spider-Man franchise, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is set to commence at the end of this month in the United Kingdom. This highly-anticipated film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, is shaping up to be a significant departure from the previous films, as it is dubbed "a fresh start" by star Tom Holland.
The film is poised to take a more mature and intense tone, similar to the darker storylines of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Kraven's Last Hunt. The narrative is expected to shift to a street-level perspective, with Peter Parker now post-high school and living anonymously, battling serious threats without Avengers or Stark tech support.
Key cast members include Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink, with Liza Colón-Zayas joining the ensemble. The film also sees the return of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner aka The Hulk, making it the first live-action Hulk appearance since the 2022 "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" show on Disney Plus. Jon Bernthal will reportedly reprise his role as The Punisher, marking his first appearance in the MCU outside of the Netflix superhero shows. Michael Mando will return as the Scorpion, having first played the character in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The plot of Spider-Man: Brand New Day involves someone manipulating Hulk, Punisher, and Spider-Man into fighting each other. Additional villains rumoured to appear include Mr. Negative and Tombstone. The film takes place after a three-year time jump from No Way Home, showing a more experienced Spider-Man combating various underworld criminals.
The filming will take place in Glasgow and Pinewood Studios, marking a tonal and narrative shift towards darker, mature storylines in the Spider-Man MCU series. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who have previously worked together on the scripts for the Spider-Man films and Ant-Man and the Wasp, are the writers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will appear in an unknown role in the film.
This upcoming Spider-Man film continues the trend of pairing Tom Holland with a seasoned Marvel actor, following appearances by Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Benedict Cumberbatch in previous films. The release date for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set for July 31, 2026.
[1] The Hollywood Reporter [2] Tom's Guide [3] ComicBook.com [4] IGN
Movies-and-TV enthusiasts and entertainment fans alike are eagerly awaiting the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as it promises a darker and more mature take on the iconic character. The film, set to premiere in July 2026, will see the return of several key cast members and introduce new villains, creating an enthralling and intense narrative that will captivate audiences. [The Hollywood Reporter, Tom's Guide, ComicBook.com, IGN]
