Spider-Man: Brand New Daymay have just reversed the MCU’s longest Spider-Man criticism via one crucial piece of news. Thestory ofSpider-Man: Brand New Dayis still relatively unknown at this point. Updates have revealed thatShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsdirector Destin Daniel Cretton will helm the movie, with thedelay ofAvengers: Doomsdaypotentially revealing that the fourth MCUSpider-Manstory will take place before then.
Beyond this, though, little about theupcoming Marvel moviehas been revealed. That said, some casting updates have given hints at what could be in store. For instance, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are expected to return as MJ and Ned, respectively, potentially hinting that the story ofSpider-Man: Brand New Daywill directly address theending ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, in which the world forgot who Peter Parker was. More recently, another casting announcement provided stronger hints at what the film could be about, while also teasing a perfect reversal of the biggest criticism of MCU Spider-Man.
The MCU’s Spider-Man Has Been Criticized For Always Having Mentors
Spider-Man Has Rarely Stood On His Own
Firstly, it is worth addressing the long-standing MCU Spider-Man criticism: his mentors.Since Spider-Man was introduced to the franchise in 2016’sCaptain America: Civil War, the character has always been tied closely to older MCU veterans. The first, and most important, of these was Tony Stark/Iron Man. Tony was the person who recruited him inCivil Warback at the start ofSpider-Man’s MCU timeline, as well as the person who endorsed him as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecoming.
In bothAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, Spider-Man was once again tied closely to Iron Man. After Tony’s death in the latter, Peter Parker substituted one veteran MCU character for another: Nick Fury. Both Fury and Happy Hogan filled the void Tony left behind inSpider-Man: Far From Home,with even the film’s villain, Quentin Beck/Mysterio, doing the same before the reveal of his evil intentions.
The criticism remained that Spider-Man had never been part of an MCU movie without an older character being placed in a mentor-like role…
Spider-Man: No Way Homethen continued this trend. Not only did Doctor Strange play a bigger role in guiding Spider-Man, but so too did the other, older Spider-Men. Although I hold the opinion that Spider-Man had enough moments to stand on his own across the trilogy and push back against his mentors, the criticism remained that Spider-Man had never been part of an MCU movie without an older character being placed in a mentor-like role.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Gives Peter Parker A Different Kind Of “Mentor”
The Film’s New Cast Member Will Shake Up The Status Quo
As of 2026, though, this mentor streak might be breaking for Peter Parker.Spider-Man: Brand New Daywill include The Punisher, also known as Frank Castle, who remains an older MCU hero than Peter Parker, but a very different one from those he typically associates with. After all,Frank Castle is perhaps more accurately described as an antihero, with his methods often clashing with other Marvel heroes, like Daredevil.
Although we do not know what role Frank Castle will play inSpider-Man: Brand New Day, the natural naivety of Spider-Man and the experience of The Punisher could see the former following in the latter’s footsteps. This way, Peter’s streak of mentors in the franchise would suddenly look very different. The Punisher is a much darker character than the likes of Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and even Nick Fury.
This will massively shake up the status quo of the MCU’sSpider-Manmovies by giving Peter a much different kind of character to follow. While Frank does not seem the type to accept a mentee, the natural age difference will almost undoubtedly ensure that he takes a spot of superiority over his younger co-star. This could make things much more interesting than previous movies, excellently reversing the seemingly repetitive mentorship of the MCU’s Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: No Way Home Sets Up Peter Parker’s Relationship With The Punisher
Peter Is In A Dark Place
Concerning how Frank Castle and Peter Parker come into contact with one another, true confirmation has not been divulged thus far. That said, several MCU plot threads can provide a roadmap to explain the team-up between The Punisher and Spider-Man. In the ending ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, Peter was forgotten by the entire world, leaving him to focus more intently on his duties as Spider-Man. As would be the case with anyone in this situation,Spider-Man: Brand New Daycould explore the negative effects this would have on Peter.
The lack of friends, family, and general human connection could see Peter grow bitter and angrybefore he comes into contact with The Punisher. Bitter and angry are two very apt words to describe Frank Castle, who could influence Peter to “let off steam.” If The Punisher’s ways begin to influence Peter, it would also provide another great way thatSpider-Man: Brand New Dayis taking the previous criticism of Peter having mentors and flipping it on its head.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Might Repeat Far From Home’s Mentor Trick
Mentor-Turned-Antagonist
Despite the ways in whichSpider-Man: Brand New Daycould subvert the MCU’s mentorship trend involving the titular hero, it could also repeat a similar trope fromSpider-Man: Far From Home. This movie saw Peter, in the absence of Tony, look to anyone else as a mentor, including Quentin Beck. Beck used this to gain Peter’s trust before revealing he was a villain, prompting Spider-Man to fix his mistakes.
In theupcomingSpider-Manmovie, a similar dynamic could be followed with Peter Parker and The Punisher. Peter could begin the movie looking up to Frank for the wrong reasons, causing an eventual clash of morality. While it is unlikely that The Punisher is depicted as an outright villain in the movie, it would make sense for the two very different types of heroes to clash about their methods, just as The Punisher does endlessly with Daredevil.
This would then contribute to that idea of subverting the MCU’s Spider-Man mentoring criticism. Now that Peter is older and has spent more time on his own as a superhero, he could take more agency and push back against The Punisher’s methods. This would be a great way to show that Peter has outgrown the need for constant oversight from more experienced MCU heroes, only further typifying howSpider-Man: Brand New Daycan subvert the franchise’s longest-running complaint.
