Tom Holland Explains Why Man-Spider Was Cut From 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'

Tom Holland revealed that one of his ideas for Spider-Man: Brand New Day ended up being left out of the film’s final version. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor said he suggested exploring a new phase of Peter Parker’s powers, inspired by puberty, but the transformation was ultimately considered too scary.

According to Holland, the idea was to show how a superhero keeps evolving over time: "When you're a kid and going through puberty, your body changes more than ever. In my franchise, we never got to that exciting moment when the hero discovers how to use his new powers", he explained. Building on that idea, he imagined a Peter Parker developing new abilities, becoming stronger and faster, while also gaining fangs, stingers, and other spider-like traits.

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However, that version of the character, known in the comics as Man-Spider, was scrapped during the film’s development. Holland explained that the concept felt too frightening and could push part of the audience away. According to the actor, the team’s priority was to make a film that would appeal to both adult fans and children.

It’s worth noting that Man-Spider is one of Peter Parker’s most extreme transformations in Marvel stories. In this phase, the hero loses part of his human appearance and begins to display monstrous spider traits, such as extra limbs, additional eyes, and animalistic instincts.

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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 will transform, 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 has been released:  "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 arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026.