After the MCU’sSpider-Mantrilogy received one common complaint, I am certainSpider-Man: Brand New Day’s new cast member will make sure it does not continue. Thestory ofSpider-Man: Brand New Daywill be the first centered around the webslinger since 2021’sSpider-Man: No Way Home.No Way Home’s endingsaw Peter Parker forgotten by the rest of the world, raising intriguing questions about where exactlyBrand New Day’s story will go.
Questions remain over whether the story will tie to otherupcoming Marvel movieslikeAvengers: Doomsdayor who the film’s true villain will be. That said, recent casting news aboutSpider-Man: Brand New Dayhas confirmed links to another section of the MCU afterDaredevil: Born Again’s ending. A character from the recent Disney+ show will make his cinematic debut inSpider-Man: Brand New Day,convincing me that a long-lasting complaint about the MCU’s iteration of Peter Parker will be rectified.
The MCU’s Spider-Man Trilogy Was Criticized For Being More Lighthearted Than Other Iterations
Despite Spidey’s Usual Humorous Nature
The complaint in question links to the tone of theMCU’sSpider-Mantimeline, with many deeming it too lighthearted thus far. Although Spider-Man had always been a character who cracks jokes with his quippy sense of humor, many agree that this dynamic works better when contrasted with more serious storylines. This was certainly the case with Sam Raimi’s original trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, which, while not without its brand of pulpy humor, tackled some serious subject matter.
Andrew Garfield’sThe Amazing Spider-Man 2was the same, dealing with the incredibly tragic storyline involving Gwen Stacy’s death. Of the MCU’sSpider-Manefforts, onlyNo Way Homehas been noted as having a somewhat darker tone. After all, the ending of that movie was beloved for a reason, with fans online pointing out that Peter Parker being at his lowest point will allow his future Spider-Man endeavors to hit even harder. The two movies prior to it, though, received criticism for airing too far on the side of lighthearted fun.
The Punisher Will Add A Sense Of Darkness To Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Frank Castle Is Anything But Lighthearted
This brings me on to the aforementioned casting addition toSpider-Man: Brand New Day- Jon Bernthal. June 2025 saw Bernthal announced as the film’s newest cast member, reprising his role as Frank Castle/The Punisher. The Punisher made his MCU debut in 2016’sDaredevilseason 2, before appearing in his own spinoff andDaredevil: Born Again.In 2026, the ruthless vigilante will make his cinematic debut - at least where Bernthal’s version is concerned - alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker inSpider-Man: Brand New Day.
While Castle’s exact role inSpider-Man: Brand New Day’s storyhas not been confirmed as of yet, one thing is for certain: The Punisher will bring darkness. Castle is an inherently dark character, having a tragic backstory involving the murders of his wife and children that set him on a path of, well, punishment. Castle is no stranger to putting those he deems worthy of punishment in the dirt, which is a stark difference from Peter Parker’s usually non-lethal methods.The Punisher does not go around cracking jokes, meaningSpider-Man: Brand New Daywill be tonally removed from previous movies.
Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Ending Makes Brand New Day’s Darker Elements Even Better
The Tonal Shift Will Not Be Too Drastic
The added edge that Bernthal’s Punisher will bring toSpider-Man: Brand New Dayshould not feel too drastic either, givenNo Way Home’s ending. In the final moments of the 2021 film, Peter Parker told Doctor Strange to cast a spell that made everyone forget him. The reason for this was to stop the multiversal incursions caused by his previous dabbles with magic, resulting in Peter losing connections like Happy Hogan, friends like Ned Leeds, and his girlfriend, MJ.
Spider-Man lived on, but Peter Parker was essentially no more. This would undoubtedly affect anyone mentally, andSpider-Man: Brand New Daycould explore this. If the movie delves into a darker side of Peter as a result ofNo Way Home’s developments, The Punisher’s inclusion makes a lot more sense. Frank Castle could be like the devil on Peter’s shoulder, opening the webslinger up to his darker urges. Even if this is not how Punisher is depicted, the character will certainly embodySpider-Man: Brand New Day’s darkness more than anything in the MCU’sSpider-Manseries has thus far.
