The big bad of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has yet to be revealed, but it is pretty clear that it is going to be Venom, and I have the receipts to prove it. Welcome back to Screen Crush. I'm Colton Ogburn, and I was sitting at my desk working on yet another Dr. Doom video when I had an epiphany. Venom is the most obvious candidate to be the secret villain for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And Spider-Man: No Way Home, Venom: The Last Dance, and some sad images from Brand New Day prove it. Let me explain.
Brand New Day picks up with Peter living his life as essentially a blank slate following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where no one remembers who Peter Parker is. In many ways, Peter Parker no longer exists, and Spider-Man is really all that is left. We will no doubt see Peter struggle with this new reality, maybe making some new friends or struggling to do so, while balancing work, school, and being Spider-Man.
From Daredevil Born again, we know that Mayor Fisk aka Kingpin is cracking down on vigilantes in New York. The Daredevil Born Again team, working on season 2, is in communication with the team making Spider-Man: Brand New Day, suggesting a crossover. Spider-Man will be affected by this crackdown, crossing paths with Frank Castle's Punisher, who is also on a war path against Fisk.
While a conflict between Spider-Man and the Punisher and their dueling philosophies is likely, they will eventually join forces to take on the film's ultimate villain, likely expected to be Venom. Meanwhile, Hulk's role in the film is anticipated to be significant in the first act, possibly as an exploited agent by Fisk to create chaos in New York, bolstering Fisk’s anti-vigilante stance in the public eye. However, Hulk is unlikely to be the main antagonist.
Spider-Man and Punisher may manage to temporarily subdue Hulk leading to a storyline where Hulk is launched into space due to his uncontrollable strength, possibly setting the stage for a World War Hulk movie in future MCU phases.
The character of Spider-Man appeals across generations, offering new stories along with nostalgia. The narrative interlinks Hulk's wrestling with rage and sympathy, fitting with Punisher's themes, and establishes a shared universe narrative direction with Spider-Man wearing the black suit.
The known villains for the movie are Scorpion and Tombstone, rumored to work for Fisk as part of his metahuman task force hunting vigilantes, with potential crossover implications from Daredevil Born Again. Jay Jonah Jameson may play a role through media, pushing a pro-Fisk agenda, reminiscent of his comic portrayal, hiring Scorpion.
A potential scenario sees Gargan bonding with Venom’s symbiote piece left in the MCU, forming a Venom incarnation with Scorpion traits. Mayor Fisk is assembling a villainous task force with these heavy hitters, leading to an anticipated showdown.
This speculation on Venom, the Hulk's role, and Spider-Man's brand new storyline serves as a teaser for what's to unfold in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.