Who's back for Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Every returning MCU character

Right then, if you thought Spider-Man: Brand New Day would just give you more of Tom Holland moping about post-No Way Home, you’re in for a bit of a shocker. The latest outing for our favourite web-slinger brings together a ridiculous mix of familiar and brand new faces, throws in a genuinely weird villain twist, and just sort of expects everyone to keep up. If you lost track of who’s who in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the last decade, join the club.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day slings in no fewer than seven previous MCU headliners, two actual supervillains making their debut, a callback from the dead, and one surprisingly emotional cameo from a character everyone assumed was finished.

Lone Spider, New Crew

We pick up with Peter Parker (still Tom Holland, still haunted by the wild magic memory-wipe that ended No Way Home) living an especially grim version of the superhero bachelor life. Nobody remembers he’s Spider-Man, not even MJ or Ned. Still, that doesn’t stop him from stalking—sorry, 'looking after'—his old mates as they settle into MIT. The bright side? All this isolation seems to be playing havoc with his spider powers, and he’s just desperate enough to ask for help. Enter Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas, rapidly becoming a favourite supporting cop). She’s the one character to properly team up with Spidey, apart from, you know, the blokes in the superpowered bracket.

This time out, we get cameos from people you wouldn’t have bet on after No Way Home: Jon Bernthal’s Punisher mixing it up with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, a quick session with Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned (who now run MIT’s most unfortunate housewarming), and villains like Tombstone and Ramrod briefly popping up for their MCU debut before disappearing again. True Marvel heads might notice that Ramrod’s actor, Billy Clements, also played a Russian baddie in the forthcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, but honestly, the link ends there. Zero shared continuity—multiverse or not, you can’t have everything.

Key Cast - Where Were They Last?

• Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland): Fresh off the world forgetting him, he’s shadowing old friends and stressing over new, unpredictable powers. Even as a total outcast, Peter’s compelled to intervene when a new, mind-meddling villain (Sadie Sink, quietly excellent as a Jean Grey-inspired nemesis) starts wreaking havoc.
• The Punisher/Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal): After the frankly brutal Disney+ special The Punisher: One Last Kill (quite possibly the bloodiest Marvel property to date, PG-13 rating be damned), Castle finally teams up with Spidey. Their banter works, partly because Holland plays forever-exasperated and Bernthal dials the rage down just enough to be funny.
• Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo): Banner’s back teaching at Empire State University—no sign of Skaar from the She-Hulk subplot, mercifully. His Hulk side’s kept locked away with a wearable inhibitor, which Spidey wants to nick the design for. Spoilers: doesn’t go well, especially after Jean Grey gets involved.
• MJ/Michelle Jones (Zendaya): Living her best life at MIT, dating someone who is most definitely not Peter, and gets swept back into disaster by a supervillain with a taste for psychic manipulation. She doesn’t remember Spider-Man’s real identity, but he’s still there to save her when things go sideways—classic Parker angst.
• Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon): Also bereft of Peter memories, but has developed an unhealthy obsession with the Spidey Tracker app and a conspiracy board full of terrible guesses about Spider-Man’s identity. Serves mainly to keep the humour ticking rather than getting his own plot.
• Scorpion/Mac Gargan (Michael Mando): Returns from Spider-Man: Homecoming, finally gets a proper fight scene, but spends most of the film as Jean Grey’s mind-controlled puppet. A bit of a waste if you ask me, but that’s the MCU’s villain problem for you.
• May Parker (Marisa Tomei): Not a typo—she’s back for one scene only, appearing to Peter as a memory (thanks, mind-invasion subplot). Gives some posthumous advice, has actual narrative impact. Could have been tacky, but works surprisingly well.
• Black Widow/Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): Last seen playing at being a New Avenger, now used perfectly as the slightly off-kilter, info-brokering contact Spidey needs. Her 'potatoes' jokes are exactly as weird as you want from Pugh's Yelena. Flirts with Peter? Yes. Is it reciprocated? Not really.
• Sheila Rivera (Zabryna Guevara): Blink and you’ll miss her, but fans of Daredevil: Born Again will spot Fisk’s brave campaign manager giving Spidey the key to the city, hinting (not subtly) at a possible Spider-Man vs Kingpin clash down the line.
• Flash Thompson and Roger Harrington (Tony Revolori and Martin Starr): Not technically present—Ned’s investigation board shows their photos as top suspects in his ongoing 'Who is Spider-Man?' mania. Glorified cameo, but it’s a nice callback if you've kept up with all three Holland films.

Other Bits and Behind-the-Scenes Oddities

The film doesn’t just retread old ground, thank god. Brand New Day keeps most of its cameos under wraps, so nearly every returning character is a mid-movie surprise. Eagle-eyed fans might spot reminders from Homecoming (hello, Shocker’s gear in the background), but otherwise, it’s less Easter egg parade and more actual character crossover. There’s no sign of Skaar, no attempt to drag in the wider Thunderbolts* storyline, and, mercifully, the story avoids any tedious multiverse explanation for May Parker’s bit. Also, yes, the post-credits stinger strongly hints Peter’s isolation is far from over—so don’t expect sentimental happy endings.