Spider-Man 4 May Have Just Spoiled Another Major MCU Heroes’ Return (With A Huge Twist)

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At the conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it hints at significant changes ahead for our web-slinging protagonist. Before Doctor Strange’s spell made everyone forget who Peter Parker is, Spider-Man had an abundance of allies that left him somewhat bewildered. Tony Stark mentored him on what it truly means to be an Avenger, and after Tony’s demise, Nick Fury stepped in, assigning Skrulls to Earth for the purpose of recruiting Peter for a crucial mission. In No Way Home, Spider-Man even crosses paths with alternate versions of himself who aid him in defeating villains from numerous universes. However, as his identity is now hidden again, his list of contacts shrinks considerably as he enters Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The fourth Spider-Man film, currently being directed by Daniel Destin Cretton, who also helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, remains shrouded in secrecy for now. It’s rumored that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon will make an appearance in some form, even though their characters are no longer friendly with Tom Holland’s. Additionally, Jon Bernthal, who previously played Frank Castle (the Punisher), is reported to reprise his role on the big screen for the first time since then.

In my perspective, it’s clear that The Punisher won’t outshine Spider-Man in terms of their crime-fighting abilities, at least not without finding some common ground between them. Luckily, it seems like another Marvel Cinematic Universe heavyweight is joining the mix. As hinted by Brand New Day’s Director of Photography, Brett Pawlak, through his Pinterest posts, there are indications that the film’s tone has been unveiled. The majority of these images depict cityscapes and Spider-Man in action, but a few, now taken down, suggest both Hulk and Spidey could be part of the storyline.

In the role of director of photography for ‘SPIDER-MAN: A FRESH START’, Brett Pawlak has prepared a collection of visual ideas, or a “mood board”, for the movie. One image within this collection showcases the Savage Hulk character.

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) June 27, 2025

For quite some time now, speculation about Hulk’s role in “Brand New Day” has circulated. It remains unclear how Bruce Banner’s alter ego would fit into a Spider-Man film. Nevertheless, Pawlak’s board presents an intriguing possibility of the character debuting in live-action for the first time.

Savage Hulk Might Be Coming to the MCU After All

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hulk’s tale has sparked debates ever since Thanos rendered him unconscious. Subsequently, Bruce Banner merged intellect and strength to form ‘Smart Hulk’. This Avenger underwent a transformation, swapping brawls for knitwear and outdated humor. A fresh chapter unfolded in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, as he introduced his son, Skaar, to the Walters family barbecue. Hulk has been absent from the MCU since then, but his upcoming appearances might not be as amicable.

In one of Pawlak’s recent posts, there was an image showcasing Savage Hulk, a particularly brutal version of the character. When transformed into this form, the hero loses all sense of reason and perceives every obstacle or adversary as a threat. So far, Savage Hulk has not made an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, after Smart Hulk’s debut, it seemed like we might never see him. But if the right villain manages to lay their hands on the green hero, Brand New Day could bring about a swift change.

A simple method to develop Savage Hulk is by manipulating Banner’s psyche similarly to how Scarlet Witch did in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. Since Wanda Maximoff isn’t available, there are numerous Spider-Man antagonists who could potentially accomplish this, such as Mister Negative. Although he may not be the most physically intimidating villain, with Hulk on his team, the balance could shift rapidly in his favor.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, 2026.

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2025-06-27 22:40