Update: THR has now confirmed the news. The trade doesn’t add any new details, but does mention that both “Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are reprising their roles as MJ and best friend Ned, although how substantial those roles will be remains unclear.”
Original story follows.
It seems we might get to see Spidey team-up with The Punisher to take on The Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day after all!
Scooper MTTSH is reporting that Jon Bernthal is set to reprise his Daredevil: Born Again role as Frank Castle/The Punisher for a “major role” in the fourth Spider-Man film.
This rumor follows a recent report from Nexus Point News, who claimed that Mark Ruffalo is set to return as Bruce Banner, noting that “Banner’s appearance will be much larger than a cameo, and Ruffalo will have a substantial role in the film.”
We’d be remiss not to mention that the Spidey/Punisher/Hulk combo was first reported by The Hot Mic, with John Rocha mentioning that he had heard that the plan was to have Spider-Man team up with The Punisher to take on The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a street-level adventure. Co-host Jeff Sneider backed up the rumor by saying Green Goliath’s involvement “passes his smell test,” but he wasn’t so sure about Castle.
Spidey has joined forces with Castle and faced-off with the Hulk on a number of occasions in the comics, and if the studio is indeed laying plans for an eventual World War Hulk(s) movie, it’s entirely possible that Banner could begin his rampage by smashing up New York. Bernthal and Holland have worked together in the past and seem to be good friends, and we could see a very entertaining dynamic between Parker and Castle as they form a reluctant alliance.
Other villains are expected to feature (Tombstone, Scorpion and Boomerang are rumored following a recent report from a Disney event in Vegas), but Spider-Man doing battle with the Hulk is one of many clashes comic book fans have been waiting to see on the big screen, so this potential showdown would be sure to generate a lot of hype and excitement.
If Ruffalo and Bernthal are indeed set to appear, they’ll join new cast members Sadie Sink (the latest rumor points to her playing a Gwen Stacy variant) and Liza Colón-Zayas. We have also heard that Steven Yeun is in talks for an undisclosed role, and Michael Mando is expected to return as the Scorpion.
Unlike the previous films, Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home, Brand New Day is the name of a specific arc from the comics, and focuses on Peter Parker attempting to rebuild his life following the events of the status quo-altering One More Day and Civil War.
Brand New Day features a number of new characters such as Carlie Cooper and Lily Hollister, aka the supervillain Menace, which has led to speculation that Sink may have been cast in one of these roles.
“I’m spending my time exploring the next stage of this amazing character with a team of the most incredible artists in the world,” said director Destin Daniel Cretton during CinemaCon. “We’re all, just daily, nerding out over the suit, how to swing, how to create an event, an emotional story, and a ride that we haven’t really seen before”
Holland did not appear in Las Vegas for the Sony presentation, but did send the following video message.
“I am so sorry I can’t be with you. I am halfway around the world shooting a movie. I know we left you with a massive cliffhanger at the end of No Way Home, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fresh start. It is exactly that. That’s all I can say.”
Spider-Man 4 was recently pushed back a week from July 24, 2026 to July 31, 2026.
