SerpApi.Org
Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows in the tradition of Jon Watts' trilogy by including multiple characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios made a deal to have the iconic Web-Slinger be a part of their interconnected universe of films, this iteration of the character has taken full advantage of it. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) have all had supporting roles in the Homecoming trilogy, and Brand New Day is embracing the street-level activities of Spider-Man with a different kind of MCU cameo from Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle/The Punisher.
In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, Tom Holland spoke about how different characters in the movie represent certain aspects of Peter Parker's life. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which the entire world forgets who Peter Parker is, the Wall-Crawler has fully immersed himself in the Spider-Man persona. Choosing to forgo a personal life in favor of being a hero, the movie explores the dangerous line Peter toes in losing his identity outside the mask. When asked about Peter's mindset at the beginning of the film, Holland described how he finds himself following in the footsteps of the Punisher:
"That's a great question. I think at the beginning of the movie he is more following in the footsteps of Frank, and he truly believes that he has to live this life alone, and it is really, really affecting him on a personal level, but also, a biological one. And for me, it was a really, really interesting character arc to try and navigate, and I think it's really fulfilling in the film."
Jon Watts' trilogy was praised for how it showcased Peter's need to be a part of the bigger universe, particularly with how Homecoming featured the character wanting to be an Avenger. Spider-Man: Far From Home explored Peter struggling to balance the responsibility with his own personal life as he strives to confess his feelings to MJ (Zendaya). With No Way Home, Peter wanted to simply focus on his college life with his friends before having to sacrifice it all. Having Brand New Day start with Peter fully embracing his superhero status and neglecting his personal life is the right kind of dichotomy from the previous movies, making this new entry that much more exciting.
The marketing forBrand New Day has kept the antagonist of the movie shrouded in secrecy, preferring to highlight the new status quo for the Wall-Crawler after the end of his first trilogy. No other iteration of the character has gone past a third movie, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day essentially being uncharted territory for Sony. Extending the story of Holland's version of the character requires bold and exciting story choices, making the decision to have Peter model himself after The Punisher the perfect kind of trajectory. Audiences will have to wait until the movie releases in theaters to see if Peter continues down the path of isolation and heroism at the cost of his personal identity.
