SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Reportedly to Feature a Big-Time OG Avenger

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be way more than just a solo Spidey outing. While early rumors flew around about wild team-ups like Spider-Man and The Punisher taking on the Hulk, one part of that fan-fiction-sounding trio may actually be coming true.

According to Nexus Point News, Mark Ruffalo is set to return as Bruce Banner. The outlet reports:

“Banner’s appearance will be much larger than a cameo, and Ruffalo will have a substantial role in the film.”

If this is true, then we can expect Banner to Hulk out, and his involvement alone suggests something much bigger is brewing. Given where things left off in No Way Home, with Peter’s world completely flipped and forgotten, it actually makes sense for him to turn to another science-minded hero for help.

Fans have also been hungry to see Peter and Bruce interact more meaningfully with each other, which would be a really fun dynamic to play with. I can see Parker going to Banner for help in whatever predicament he finds himself in.

If Ruffalo is joining the project, he'll join new cast members Sadie Sink , who is rumored to by playing Mayday Parker, and Liza Colón-Zayas. It’s also reported that Steven Yeun is in talks for an undisclosed role, and Michael Mando will be back as the Scorpion.

Filming kicks off this July in London, and director Destin Daniel Cretton is already hyping up the creative process, previously saying:

“I’m spending my time exploring the next stage of this amazing character with a team of the most incredible artists in the world. 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.”

Tom Holland also previously said:

“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.”

We’ll see how fresh that start really is when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026.