Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, while Zendaya, Jacob Batalon and Michael Mando are back alongside major Marvel additions including Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo and Tramell Tillman.

August 12, 2026: The latest chapter in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man story has officially arrived, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day brings together a mix of familiar faces and major new additions to Peter Parker’s world.

Released in theaters in late July 2026, the film marks the beginning of a new chapter following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Peter is now living in a world where nobody remembers who he is, leaving him to navigate life as Spider-Man without the relationships that once grounded him. Sony’s official synopsis describes Peter as fighting crime full-time while facing a new threat that could change him in ways he cannot control.

That setup makes the casting especially interesting.

Some actors are returning to characters audiences already know. Others are entering Tom Holland’s Spider-Man universe for the first time, even if their Marvel characters have appeared elsewhere.

HOLR breaks down the Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast, including who is returning, who is new to the franchise and why each addition matters.

Tom Holland Returns as Peter Parker

There is no Spider-Man: Brand New Day without Tom Holland.

Holland returns as Peter Parker, continuing the version of Spider-Man he first introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War before starring in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home and No Way Home.

This time, however, Peter is in a very different position.

Following the events of No Way Home, the world has forgotten Peter Parker’s identity. His friends and former connections have moved on, while Peter has chosen to dedicate himself almost entirely to protecting New York.

Sony describes the new film as a fresh chapter for the character, with Peter facing the consequences of living as Spider-Man without the personal life he once had.

For Holland, the role represents another evolution of Peter rather than a simple continuation of the previous trilogy.

Zendaya Returns as MJ

Zendaya is also back as MJ.

Her return is particularly important because No Way Home ended with Peter making the heartbreaking decision to erase himself from MJ’s memory in order to save the multiverse.

In Brand New Day, MJ’s relationship with Peter is therefore very different from what audiences saw in the earlier movies.

She remains part of the story, but Peter’s decision has changed what they remember about each other.

Sony officially lists Zendaya among the returning cast alongside Holland.

Her presence also gives the new movie an emotional connection to the previous Spider-Man films.

Jacob Batalon Is Back as Ned Leeds

Fans also get the return of Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds.

Ned has been Peter’s best friend throughout Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, often providing comic relief while also becoming an important part of Peter’s superhero life.

But, like MJ, Ned no longer remembers Peter after the events of No Way Home.

That makes his return different from a traditional sequel appearance.

The friendship audiences knew has essentially been reset, creating a new emotional dynamic between Peter and Ned.

Sony’s official cast list confirms Batalon’s return.

Michael Mando Returns as Scorpion

One of the most notable returning faces is Michael Mando, who reprises his role as Mac Gargan, also known as Scorpion.

Mando originally appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where Gargan encountered Peter Parker and later expressed an interest in discovering Spider-Man’s identity.

His return connects Brand New Day directly to the earliest installment of Holland’s Spider-Man era.

This time, however, Gargan has a much larger presence.

Mando has also discussed the future of Scorpion and the character’s potential connection to Venom, making his return especially interesting for Marvel fans watching the wider universe.

Jon Bernthal Brings Back the Punisher

Jon Bernthal is another familiar Marvel face, although he is new to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man film series.

Bernthal returns as Frank Castle, better known as the Punisher.

The character was previously featured prominently in Marvel’s Netflix-era series Daredevil and his own The Punisher series. Bernthal later returned to the role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

His appearance in Brand New Day marks his first major involvement in Holland’s Spider-Man film franchise.

That makes him both a returning Marvel character and a new addition to Peter Parker’s movie world.

The official Sony cast list confirms Bernthal’s appearance as part of the film.

Mark Ruffalo Returns as Bruce Banner

Another major Marvel addition is Mark Ruffalo, who appears as Bruce Banner, the scientist who can transform into the Hulk.

Ruffalo has portrayed Banner across numerous Marvel projects, making him an established part of the MCU.

However, this is his first appearance in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man series.

His inclusion expands the scope of Brand New Day beyond Peter’s immediate circle and creates another connection between Spider-Man and the larger Marvel universe.

Sony officially lists Ruffalo among the principal cast.

For longtime Marvel fans, seeing Banner interact with Holland’s Peter adds another layer to the film’s place within the MCU.

Sadie Sink Joins the Spider-Man Universe

One of the biggest new names in the cast is Sadie Sink.

The Stranger Things star joins the film in a significant role, although Marvel and Sony kept details surrounding her character heavily guarded ahead of release.

Her casting generated considerable speculation among fans before the movie arrived.

What makes Sink’s addition especially interesting is that she enters the franchise without an established history in previous Spider-Man films.

That gives her character a completely new relationship with Peter’s world.

Rather than continuing a storyline audiences already know, she becomes part of the next phase of the story.

Tramell Tillman Makes His Marvel Debut

Tramell Tillman, known for his acclaimed work in Severance, is another new face in the film.

Tillman joins the cast as Bill Metzger, a character who becomes connected to the events surrounding Peter and the film’s larger conflict.

His casting is significant because Tillman comes into the movie with a strong reputation from television but without the extensive superhero franchise history associated with some of his co-stars.

The role gives him an opportunity to enter one of Hollywood’s biggest cinematic universes.

Sony officially lists Tillman among the film’s cast.

Liza Colón-Zayas Joins the Cast

Another new addition is Liza Colón-Zayas, best known for her Emmy-winning performance as Tina Marrero on The Bear.

Colón-Zayas joins the Spider-Man cast in a supporting role.

Her presence adds another recognizable television performer to a movie that already combines actors from several major franchises.

Her role is part of the film’s broader New York setting, helping expand Peter’s world beyond the characters audiences have followed since Homecoming.

Rosario Dawson Was Originally Set to Appear

There is also an important distinction when discussing returning cast members.

Rosario Dawson filmed a scene as Claire Temple, her Marvel character who appeared across several Marvel television series, including Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders.

However, Dawson recently confirmed that her scene was ultimately cut from the finished film.

That means she should not be counted among the final on-screen returning cast of Brand New Day.

Her situation is a useful reminder that filming a scene does not necessarily mean a character will appear in the final movie.

So Who Is Actually New?

Looking at the cast from the Spider-Man franchise perspective, the new additions include:

• Sadie Sink
• Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle
• Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner
• Tramell Tillman as Bill Metzger
• Liza Colón-Zayas

Bernthal and Ruffalo are technically returning Marvel actors because their characters already exist within the MCU.

However, they are new to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man film series.

Michael Mando is different because he already appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are the most recognizable returning members of Peter’s immediate circle.

Why the New Cast Matters

The casting of Brand New Day reflects how much Peter Parker’s world has changed.

The earlier movies focused heavily on Peter’s relationships with Tony Stark, Happy Hogan, Aunt May, Ned and MJ.

After No Way Home, many of those connections were dramatically altered.

The new movie therefore has an opportunity to introduce characters who can help define Peter’s next chapter.

The inclusion of the Punisher and Hulk also suggests that Spider-Man’s world is becoming more closely connected with other corners of the MCU.

At the same time, returning characters such as MJ, Ned and Scorpion keep the film connected to what came before.

A New Chapter for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man

Brand New Day is ultimately built around a familiar character entering unfamiliar territory.

Peter Parker is still Spider-Man.

Tom Holland is still wearing the suit.

But the circumstances surrounding him have changed considerably.

He is older, more experienced and more isolated than he was when audiences first met him.

The mixture of returning characters and new faces reflects that evolution.

HOLR breaks down the Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast, and the biggest takeaway is that Marvel is using familiar characters to anchor a story that otherwise represents a significant reset for Peter Parker.

For fans, that combination makes the movie particularly interesting.

There are characters to recognize, new performers to discover and plenty of unanswered questions about where Peter’s story goes next.

After several years of multiverse chaos, Brand New Day is giving Holland’s Spider-Man something he has never really had before:

A genuine new beginning.

FAQs

Who returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, with Zendaya as MJ, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds and Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion. Sony’s official cast list also includes Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo.

Is Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Yes. Zendaya returns as MJ, although her relationship with Peter is complicated by the events of No Way Home.

Is Sadie Sink in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Yes. Sadie Sink joins the cast in a new role. Her character was kept largely secret before the film’s release.

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