Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Sony Pictures
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day having its biggest opening weekend with $360 million – and everyone who has seen the film now knows who Sadie Sink’s character is – it’s time to discuss what the ending of the film could all mean for Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
Let’s begin with the ending of the film…
In the third and final act of the film, Jean Grey (Sink) has unlocked another level of her powers, expanding her range of psychic abilities and mind control to a further radius from 33 feet to one kilometer – 3280 feet, which also encompasses MJ (Zendaya) and Ned’s (Jacob Batalon) apartment. Peter is unaffected by her powers and goes to reason with Jean, even inviting her into his mind. This is where she meets his memory of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), who offers them advice to remember that they’re special because of who they are, not how powerful they become. And having these powers may feel lonely, but they should remember their responsibility to take care of themselves. This affects Jean greatly, and she opens up to Peter, who tells her she’s not alone.
In the midst of all this, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) sets up his sniper gun aimed at Jean and shoots it. Peter senses this and saves Jean as he is shot instead. Jean’s psychic hold on everyone is released. While it looks dire for Peter, he tells Jean to run, but she utilizes her powers to try to keep him alive.
Peter does survive, as he is treated in the hospital with his identity intact. Frank stands watch over Peter, as Frank feels guilty for almost killing Peter. As Peter recovers and leaves the hospital – with Frank putting on the mask as a distraction, Peter sees the impact he’s made as Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Sony Pictures
Did Jean Grey trip MJ and Ned’s Memory of Peter and Spider-Man?
It seems Jean Grey may be more powerful than anyone expected – which comic book readers already know she’s one of the most powerful Marvel mutants (especially as the White Phoenix). Maybe she didn’t want Peter to be alone, and her powers may have tripped MJ and Ned’s memory of their best friend Peter Parker and his role as Spider-Man. While trapped in Jean’s psychic hold, a tear runs down MJ’s cheek. She is then seen wearing the broken Black Dahlia necklace that Peter bought her. Though it’s never stated, it is assumed that Ned remembered Peter from their best friend handshake at the end of the film… starting a Brand New Day.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Sony Pictures
Could This Mean Several Avengers Could Remember Peter/Spider-Man?
Or, at least Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), as he was in the area when all of this happened. Jean’s powers did control Bruce/Hulk; therefore, they could have triggered something in him too – like MJ and Ned. Even after the Hulk took over Bruce Banner’s mind and body, Peter told him who he was, and something seemed to have affected him. It also could have been the Hulk – not Bruce – remembering Peter. In the Immortal Hulk: Great Power #1, when the world forgot Peter Parker is Spider-Man, Hulk remembered, as he’s unaffected by memory wipes.
Also, because this is four years after No Way Home, nobody knows what happened to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). His powers may have weakened or just changed over time. It’s still unknown if he’s even in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film. So, a lot could have happened. Though it has been confirmed that Doctor Strange will be in next year’s Avengers: Secret Wars.
(L-R): John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Ava/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Marvel’s AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. Photo courtesy of Marvel. © 2026 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
Marvel
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is Jean Grey’s Origin Story
In the comics for Earth 616, after the death of her best friend, Jean’s powers activated. It was then, as a child, that she met Charles Xavier, who would become her mentor.
Her sister didn’t really have that much of an impact on her powers, so this changes so much about Jean’s origins, especially her relationship with her sister and mother. (In the comics, Jean came from a loving, supportive, and stable family.)
Brand New Day serves as the Jean Grey kickstart for Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier’s X-Men film, which is said to be part of the 2028 releases.
Many have been questioning whether Sir Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier and Sir Ian McKellen’s Magneto are part of this version of Jean Grey since the duo is part of Avengers: Doomsday. But it’s safe to assume they’re not from the same universe, as this version of Charles and Magneto are from Earth-838.
Post-Credit: Which Spider-Man is out there?
The post-credit scene shows Ned’s Spider-Man tracker app interface alerting the presence of another Spider-Man, but this time in space.
Similar to the Thunderbolts’ post-credit scene, the “New Avengerz” are alerted to a ship entering Earth’s atmosphere – which was The Fantastic Four’s ship. Then, in Fantastic Four: The First Steps’ post-credit scene, Franklin is a four-year-old and is seen interacting with a maskless Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), as Franklin’s mother, Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), goes to get another book to read to him. The timing seems perfect for the four heroes to follow Dr. Doom, who we can suspect kidnapped Franklin, to Earth-616.
(L-R) The Dora Milaje, Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Joaquin Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez), and Ava/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in Marvel’s AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. Photo courtesy of Marvel. © 2026 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
Marvel
Though Holland isn’t said to be in the new Avengers film, it’s safe to say another iteration of Spider-Man may be present. Holland has said he would like to “pass the baton” for the next Spider-Man. If it is for Holland, then it may be for Avengers: Secret Wars.
There are TOO many possibilities, including the Symbiotes, since audiences did see Venom/Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) in No Way Home. This could also be another way to connect Into the Spiderverse to this world. Like many of the MCU post-credit scenes, it’s all a mystery until the next film.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is out in theaters everywhere.