Five years and a million speculations later, MCU’s Spider-Man has returned with a brand-new story, new heroes and villains, and a new-ish Peter Parker in Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The fourth installment in the MCU Spider-Man film series following Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day picks up four years after the events of the 2021 film, in which most of the world’s memories of Peter Parker were wiped, including those of Peter’s best friend, Ned, and his love interest, MJ, making him anonymous to almost everyone in his life.
In the latest film, Peter continues to protect New York City and investigates a powerful psychic threat on the rise, while also navigating a strange new metamorphosis within himself. Since its premiere, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has garnered widespread acclaim for the stellar production, spectacular action, and mature character arcs, headlined by Tom Holland’s in-depth performance. The latest Spider-Man installment also earned praise for its stacked cast, featuring familiar faces and a major new addition. Without further ado, here’s our ranking of every major character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
11
Detective Jean DeWolff
Played by Liza Colón-Zayas
Liza Colón-Zayas smiling in The Bear Season 3 Episode 6Image via FX
A gritty and grounded NYPD detective, Detective Jean DeWolff is a key ally to Spider-Man who makes her first appearance in Brand New Day. His primary contact in the police department, DeWolff helps fight crimes and keep the Big Apple safe. Alienated from his friends from the past, Peter finds a new friend in the detective, the closest to a mentor figure he has at the moment.
Emmy-winning star of The Bear, Liza Colón-Zayas portrays the character, playing a role in Peter’s life that has been popularly compared to that of Commissioner Gordon for Batman. Even though DeWolff does not know the person behind the mask, she feels concerned about Spidey’s obsession with his role in society and encourages the young vigilante to find balance in life.
10
William “Bill” Metzger
Played by Tramell Tillman
Spider-Man: Brand New Day teaser trailer StillsImages via Sony Pictures Releasing
Also appearing for the first time in Brand New Day, Bill Metzger is a new key character introduced into the MCU as a highly manipulative antagonist. The corrupt head of the Department of Damage Control, Metzger is in charge of policing superpowered individuals and exploits people’s fear of individuals with superpowers to target and control mutants.
After a breakout at the DODC facility, caused by an invisible threat, Metzger recruits Spider-Man to investigate what only he can sense and is immune to. Played by the Emmy-winning Tramell Tillman, the character is adapted from the original comic books for the MCU, but the cinematic interpretation is very different from his comic book counterpart.
9
Scorpion
Played by Michael Mando
The Scorpion smiling in Spider-Man: Brand New DayImage via Sony Pictures Releasing
One of the villains in Brand New Day and one of Spidey’s numerous enemies, Scorpion, aka Mac Gargan, is a professional criminal who was captured by the FBI thanks to Spider-Man and has been seeking revenge ever since. In Brand New Day, Mac Gargan breaks out of prison and wears a suit of armor equipped with a mechanized scorpion-like tail, becoming a supervillain known as Scorpion.
Michael Mando returns to his role of Mac Gargan from 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, evolving into a powerful, unpredictable villain. In the MCU, the character has only appeared twice, and only once in the live-action films, with an alternate version of the villain appearing in the 2025 animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
8
May Parker
Played by Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei in Spider-Man No Way HomeImave via Walt Disney Pictures
Peter’s beloved aunt and widow of his uncle Ben, May Parker tragically dies in Spider-Man: No Way Home after being fatally wounded by Green Goblin. Played by Academy Award-winning Marisa Tomei, May has played a significant role in Peter Parker’s life, appearing in six MCU films, including all the Spider-Man films.
In Brand New Day, May only appears in flashbacks but still holds an important role in Peter’s life. Leaving Peter with some valuable advice, May’s moral legacy has become somewhat of a guiding light for Peter ever since her death. So, when she appears, even as a memory, she is a symbol of comfort and support for her nephew as he navigates a complicated identity and impending threats.
7
MJ
Played by Zendaya
MJ (Zendaya) in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
An original character of the MCU, Michelle Jones-Watson, or MJ, is Peter’s former classmate from high school and forever love interest, who briefly dated Peter before losing her memory of him following the events of No Way Home. Zendaya reprises her award-winning role from the previous films, but brings new dimensions to the character. In Brand New Day, MJ is now a student at MIT, alongside Peter’s former best friend, Ned, who is also her roommate.
The new version of MJ sees her in the tragic aftermath of the memory wipe but depicts the same intelligent, clever, and snarky personality as always. She has no recollection of her relationship with Peter or who he even is and has a new love interest, which creates further emotional conflicts, delivered through a very heartbreaking scene in the film.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
6
Ned Leeds
Played by Jacob Batalon
Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Ned Leeds was once Peter’s best friend from high school and the first person (besides Tony Stark) to discover his identity as Spider-Man. Ned has appeared in six MCU films, including every MCU Spider-Man film, as the loyal, supportive, and nifty sidekick to the teenage vigilante. In Brand New Day, he is living a life mostly unaffected by Peter Parker’s absence, but he is a fan of the superhero Spider-Man.
Ned has now created a Spidey Tracker app that tracks all the hero’s movements with the hopes of finding out who Spider-Man is, which obviously becomes an important plot point in the story. Jacob Batalon reprises his role of Spidey’s best friend, now former friend, earning praise for his character’s emotional core and the heartfelt mystery surrounding his connection to Peter Parker.
5
Yelena Belova
Played by Florence Pugh
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’Image via Marvel Studios
The adoptive sister of the late Avenger Natasha Romanoff and a member of the New Avengers, Yelena Belova makes her third MCU appearance in Brand New Day. In her first-ever on-screen encounter with Spider-Man, the skilled Russian assassin helps the superhero with access to information that is often hard to get. Working out of a New York bathhouse, Yelena keeps an eye on Damage Control for Peter.
Even though she does not fight enemies alongside Peter, she plays an important strategic role, connecting Peter to the wider network of New Avengers. Following 2025’s Thunderbolts, Florence Pugh reprises her role of Yelena in Brand New Day, where she is now referred to as Black Widow, officially confirming her title and taking over Natasha Romanoff’s legacy.
4
The Punisher
Played by Jon Bernthal
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle aka The Punisher in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’Images via Sony Pictures Releasing
Frank Castle aka The Punisher, has come a long way since he first became a part of the MCU in Daredevil, but continues to be the edgy, violent, street-level vigilante isolated from society in Brand New Day. Following a violent encounter with Spider-Man, he learns to warm up to him, despite being unaware of his true identity, offering support and helping the young superhero cope with his troubles. Through their constant squabbles, it becomes evident that they share deep emotional burdens, as both men grapple with grief and isolation.
Fresh off the heels of his latest appearance in The Punisher: One Last Kill, Jon Bernthal returns as the ruthless vigilante in Brand New Day, which also marks the first appearance of the character in the MCU films. The movie also features his iconic Battle Van from the comics, another first for the character’s live-action appearances.
3
Jean Grey
Played by Sadie Sink
Sadie Sink as Jean Gray in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
The newest addition to the MCU and, so far, one of the most popular and powerful characters of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jean Grey is a mutant with psychokinetic and telepathic abilities, played by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. Jean becomes the story’s main villain and Spider-Man’s nemesis as the shadowy, controlling force targeting Damage Control.
A member of the X-Men in the comics, the MCU’s Jean Grey is technically neither a superhero nor a supervillain, but rather a complex character who becomes antagonistic and vengeful due to a deep personal loss. Jean is able to control anyone’s mind she wishes, reading their deepest thoughts and forcing them to do whatever she wants. But somehow, Peter is immune to her abilities, which leads to further hostility between them and some visually stunning action pieces.
2
The Hulk
Played by Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.Image via Sony Pictures / Marvel Studios
After nearly two decades and counting, The Hulk is still unarguably one of the most powerful and complex characters within Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Introduced in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the Hulk has since appeared in 11 major live-action projects, becoming a central character within the MCU. Mark Ruffalo reprises his role of the genius scientist-turned-green humanoid, Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk.
Since Avengers: Endgame, Bruce has controlled his DNA mutation with Gamma radiation using an inhibitor device that turns him green but limits his physical and emotional transformation. In Brand New Day, Bruce is now a professor of quantum mechanics whom Peter seeks out for help with his evolving powers. While Bruce had successfully merged both his personas, turning him into Smart Hulk, Brand New Day also sees him regressing to his earlier destructive persona, Savage Hulk, last seen in Avengers: Infinity War.
