The wait is finally over as fans have their first glimpse of Zendaya back as MJ in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. The upcoming MCU film, part of Phase 6, will see Tom Holland’s Peter Parker step into a brand-new chapter after the heartbreaking events of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘.
And from the looks of these early set photos, this chapter might be just as bittersweet. Meanwhile, on the casting side of things, a long-standing fan-favorite rumor about the movie’s potential villain has hit an all-time high.
MJ And Peter Were Seen Together At Aunt May’s Grave In The Set Photos
First look at Tom Holland and Zendaya on the set of ‘SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY’
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) August 7, 2025
(Source: justbuzz.exe | TikTok) pic.twitter.com/ZPYYDl8WPf
Filming for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ kicked off in early August, with Tom Holland spotted on set multiple times in costume. However, until now, he had been the only familiar face confirmed through photos. Thanks to images shared by @justbuzz.exe, fans finally know for certain: Zendaya is back as MJ.
The photos show the two characters at Aunt May’s grave. It’s a callback to one of the most emotional gut-punches in ‘No Way Home’. For Peter, this is sacred ground. However, the sight of MJ there raises all kinds of questions. Is she there to support Peter? Or is her presence entirely coincidental, given that, after the memory wipe in ‘No Way Home’, she no longer remembers who Peter really is?
Peter Parker delivering flowers to Aunt May’s grave in #SpiderManBrandNewDay. 💔 pic.twitter.com/7Rz5r9dCo4
— Spider-Man: Brand New Day Updates (@spideyupdated) August 8, 2025
The set pictures are deliberately vague. Moreover, it has been reported that MJ’s role in ‘Brand New Day’ will be smaller than in the previous trilogy. That said, smaller doesn’t mean insignificant. If her presence at Aunt May’s grave leads to even a spark of recognition, it could be the first step toward rekindling one of the MCU’s most beloved relationships. And even if MJ doesn’t regain her memories, her appearance alone keeps the door open for the future.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Might Have A Fan-Favorite Villain
While the reunion of Peter and MJ dominates the emotional side of the conversation, another hot topic is swirling around ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, the question of who the film’s main villain will be. One of the most intriguing possibilities, according to fans, is Mister Negative, aka Li. Li is a crime lord with a dual identity and supernatural powers, best known through Insomniac’s Spider-Man video game series.
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Fans have been dreaming up casting choices for Mister Negative for years, and one name that keeps popping up is Daniel Dae Kim. The resemblance between the fan art and the character is uncanny. When SR asked Kim about the fancasting, the actor admitted he’d seen it. “I heard something about that over the past six or seven months, and I saw that. I’ve seen that people want other Asian actors to play him as well. So I’m happy to be included in that conversation… It’s interesting.”
“I’m always up for an interesting role and an interesting project,” he added. While Kim stopped short of confirming anything, the door is clearly not closed. If Mister Negative does end up being Peter’s foe in ‘Brand New Day’, it would be the perfect choice. The character offers a perfect mix of physical and psychological challenges for Spider-Man. With the movie set for release in 2026, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ will be the final MCU film before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’.
