Spider-Man films have always been known to arrive at the right time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First, it was ‘Homecoming’ that threw Peter Parker into a post-Civil War world. Then ‘No Way Home’ ripped open the multiverse and broke fans’ hearts.
His Spidey solo outings are hardly ever small. Now, however, with the new details of the Hulk seemingly missing in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
Marvel’s Hulk Problem Might Be Solved In ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
On the surface, ‘Brand New Day’ is a street-level re-establishment for Peter Parker following the emotional ending of ‘No Way Home’. However, behind the scenes, it might be carrying much more weight, particularly for Bruce Banner and his green alter ego. Mark Ruffalo has recently stated that Hulk will not feature in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Although the misdirection of the actors in Marvel is a well-known fact, the comment was not in vain.
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Taken literally, it leaves a colossal void in the Multiverse Saga. The Hulk made his final appearance in a full-length movie in 2021 in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’. Should ‘Doomsday’ really not feature him, the only known Hulk appearance in a feature film between ‘Endgame’ and 2027 ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ is ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. That’s an enormous responsibility for a character who has been central to the MCU since Phase One.
In practical terms, this means ‘Brand New Day’ may carry half of the Hulk’s entire post-Endgame movie arc. To longtime fans who have been following Bruce Banner’s development, this makes the film seem less of a choice and more of a necessity. And it is interesting, emotionally. Where is Banner when there is a universe-level disaster such as Doomsday? Why not crush the Hulk with the greatest heroes of the Earth?
Why This Makes Spider-Man’s Story Even Bigger
The fact that the Hulk is not present in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is a reflection of Marvel’s Infinity Saga strategy. ‘Infinity War’ was centered on a smaller circle of characters, whereas ‘Endgame’ united all of them in the final battle. If ‘Secret Wars’ is positioned as the true culmination of the Multiverse Saga, it makes sense for Hulk to sit out ‘Doomsday’ and return later with greater impact.
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That is where ‘Brand New Day’ might slip in. The movie does not have to be about Hulk. However, it might justify his absence in significant ways. Banner may be wounded, out of this world, or suffering the aftermaths that prevent him from joining the Avengers. Even a short appearance would put the Hulk in context as to why he is absent when the stakes are cosmic. This also strengthens the lonely, grounded course his story appears to be following in the case of Peter Parker.
While cosmic anarchy is playing out in other places, he is left to maneuver in a world devoid of mentors, without fame, and perhaps without the security blanket of the heavy hitters of the Marvel universe. If ‘Brand New Day’ truly bridges Spider-Man’s personal reset with the Hulk’s unexplained absence, it won’t just be another chapter in Peter Parker’s life. It can silently emerge as one of the most significant connective movies in the MCU.
