'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Almost Had Chameleon as the Villain, Writers Reveal

Spider-Man almost faced another villain in Brand New Day. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the film’s writers, revealed that Chameleon, known in the comics as Kraven’s half-brother, was at one point planned as the main antagonist of the Tom Holland-led production. The information was shared during the podcast The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith, in an episode dedicated to the feature.

According to the writers, the idea was ultimately scrapped and the story went in a different direction with the introduction of Jean Grey, played by Sadie Sink. The change was also reportedly related to Chameleon’s use in the film Kraven the Hunter (2024), which had already explored the character’s connection to Kraven’s family. In the movie, Jean took on a central role in the plot and marked the character’s first appearance in the MCU.

The choice also changed the course of the story involving Peter Parker’s identity. In Brand New Day, the world still does not remember that Peter is Spider-Man, while Jean emerges as a powerful mutant tied to the events driving the plot forward. The character will also return in the new X-Men movie, which premieres in 2028.

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In addition to Tom Holland returning as the lead, Jacob Batalon will be back as Ned, and Zendaya returns for the new Spider-Man movie as MJ. Among the new additions, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) joins as Jean Grey.

Another confirmed cast member is Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, marking the hero’s debut in Marvel films. Also joining him, Mark Ruffalo is in the movie as Hulk and transforms, for the first time in the MCU, into Gray Hulk, a bigger and more dangerous version of the giant.

The official synopsis for Brand New Day follows:  "It's a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them."

Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is directing the project. Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna, who wrote Spider-Man: No Way Home, are also responsible for the upcoming film. 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters.