Spider-Man: Brand New Day lives up to its title by serving as a fresh start for the MCU's Peter Parker. Now, after a movie that saw Spidey set out to protect New York from a vengeful Jean Grey and the rampaging Savage Hulk, all eyes are on what comes next.
One of the biggest requests from fans is a team-up with Daredevil. We're hopeful it will eventually happen, but as of now, it doesn't appear to be the plan. Still, the Man Without Fear could (and should) show up for a supporting turn in any one of these iterations of Spider-Man 5.
Below, you'll find our take on five possible directions for the Spider-Man: Brand New Day sequel. Those range from the long-awaited MCU debut of Venom to Miles Morales' introduction and a fresh take on some familiar faces.
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Venom Returns
After years of teases, Spider-Man 5 can finally deliver the MCU's take on Venom. With Tom Holland's Peter Parker widely expected to encounter the Symbiote during Avengers: Secret Wars, the stage would be perfectly set for the alien costume to follow him back to Earth and become the driving force behind his next solo adventure.
There are two obvious directions Marvel Studios could take. The first is bringing back Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock following his brief MCU cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home's post-credits scene. While Venom: The Last Dance appeared to wrap up his story, a soft reboot for the franchise can bring a new version of Eddie into Spidey's world.
The alternative—and, in some ways, more exciting possibility—is introducing an MCU version of Venom through Mac Gargan. After the beating he took in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he's no doubt desperate for revenge and becoming Venom is arguably a natural next step. Either way, a darker, more aggressive Peter Parker battling Venom feels like a natural evolution after Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Spider-Man vs. Wolverine
If Marvel Studios continues weaving Spider-Man into the MCU's upcoming Mutant Saga, there's arguably no better character to pair him with than Wolverine. The contrast between Peter Parker's youthful optimism and Logan's gruff, no-nonsense personality has always made for comic book gold, and it's a dynamic that would translate well to the big screen.
Whether that's Hugh Jackman's iconic version or a brand-new actor taking over the role, seeing the two heroes reluctantly forced to work together would be a major draw. The relationship would also echo the dynamic Peter shared with The Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with the hero constantly trying to stop his far more brutal ally from crossing moral lines.
Spider-Man no longer needs a mentor, so a team-up like this has heaps of potential. The MCU movies still haven't revealed how the web-slinger gained his powers, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that he's eventually revealed as a mutant. Alternatively, Logan might want a word about the power-dampening inhibitor chip Spidey created.
Peter Parker Meets Miles Morales
There's a very real desire to see a live-action Miles Morales in the MCU. However, rather than immediately replacing Peter Parker, Spider-Man 5 can take inspiration from Insomniac's acclaimed Spider-Man games by introducing Miles as a younger hero-in-training. Peter, now older and more experienced after everything he's endured, is a natural fit to serve as a mentor, something his run-in with Jean Grey proved.
It would also give the MCU time to properly develop Miles before he inevitably takes centre stage. Tom Holland has spoken openly about not wanting to play Spider-Man forever, and gradually building toward two Spider-Men protecting New York would make his eventual departure feel earned instead of abrupt.
The actor also wants to pass the torch to a young actor, similar to what Robert Downey Jr. did for him when he joined the MCU in 2016. If we get to learn how Miles became Spider-Man, then it also opens the door to flashbacks revisiting the fateful day Peter acquired his amazing abilities.
New Takes On Classic Villains
The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus are two of Spider-Man's greatest enemies, both on the page and screen, but that doesn't mean the MCU should avoid them simply because previous versions were so memorable.
Spider-Man: No Way Home celebrated Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina's performances, but those Variants shouldn't prevent Marvel Studios from introducing entirely new versions of Norman Osborn and Otto Octavius. Recasting either role would allow the MCU to build long-term relationships between Peter and his greatest foes instead of relying on Multiversal visitors.
A fresh Norman Osborn could serve as Peter's greatest threat over multiple films, whether he dons the classic costume or becomes a demonic, Hulk-like monster. An Ultimate Universe-style Doctor Octopus, meanwhile, would offer a scientific rival capable of challenging Spider-Man intellectually as well as physically. Black Cat's MCU would also be welcomed after "Felicia" briefly showed up in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Morlun
Spider-Man: Brand New Day further explored Peter Parker's powers through his "Spider Puberty," and Spider-Man 5 has the potential to take that even further with the introduction of Morlun. Unlike Spider-Man's more traditional rogues, he brings a supernatural element to the franchise and opens the door to exploring that side of Spidey's abilities.
The ancient, seemingly unstoppable predator feeds on the life force of Spider-Totems, making him one of the most dangerous enemies Peter has ever faced. He's also a villain audiences haven't seen on the big screen before, giving Marvel Studios the chance to break away from familiar territory while introducing the web-slinger's most formidable opponent yet.
Perhaps most importantly, Morlun opens the door to even bigger stories. As an Inheritor, he's connected to the Spider-Verse and could even help connect Peter with Miles Morales. Heck, if Sony and Marvel really want to up the ante, then why not bring back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Men for the franchise's most epic team-up to date?