Given that Spider-Man: Brand New Day grossed $1.7 billion, it is only a matter of time until Sony and Marvel Studios announce Spider-Man 5. This has led to speculation about what the plot for the upcoming sequel should be. Yet the MCU Spider-Man film franchise is unique in that it doesn’t adapt specific comic book storylines, and the films are largely original stories unique to the shared universe.
Although Spider-Man: Brand New Day shares its name with the “Brand New Day” storyline from the comics, it doesn’t adapt that specific storyline; instead, it follows the creative ethos of picking up with Peter Parker after a magical spell changes his life. In fact, none of the MCU Spider-Man films have adapted specific storylines the same way Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 did “Spider-Man No More” or The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did “The Death of Gwen Stacy.” That said, there are plenty of great Spider-Man comics that could serve as a great starting point for the direction of Spider-Man 5, both in how they continue the threads from Brand New Day and in how they could set up the future of the MCU.
“The Death of Jean DeWolff”
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107–110
Let’s get the bleakest, and also most unlikely one out of the way. Spider-Man: Brand New Day introduced Jean DeWolff to the MCU, played by Liza Colón-Zayas from The Bear. She is established as Spider-Man’s police partner, similar to her role in the comics. However, Jean DeWolff is best known for her tragic death in the “Death of Jean DeWolff” storyline, in which she is murdered in her sleep by the Sin-Eater.
There are a few reasons this storyline might be enticing. The comic teams up Spider-Man and Daredevil, a pairing fans have wanted to see for some time and was teased with Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The series also lays the groundwork for Eddie Brock to become Venom, so Venom’s origin could tie into this adaptation. However, this is a bleak storyline that would clash with the seemingly upbeat direction the ending of Spider-Man: Brand New Day potentially teased. Plus, after meeting Jean DeWolff’s kids, does anyone want to see her brutally murdered?
“Gang War”
The Amazing Spider-Man #37-44
A more recent comic, “Gang War“, could turn Spider-Man 5 into a massive team-up film with various Marvel heroes in New York, like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Elektra. It could also finally pit Spider-Man against Wilson Fisk / The Kingpin, who originally was a Spider-Man foe. Gang War sees various criminals in the Marvel Universe battling for control of New York City. It’s a broad set-up, but one with plenty of opportunity.
Not only could Kingpin be one of the crime lords, but the film could expand on Tombstone, who was briefly seen at the beginning of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It would actually be a great chance to flesh out many of the one-off villains seen at the beginning of Spider-Man: Brand New Day as enforcers for various criminal leaders, all while Spider-Man and the other New York heroes fight to keep the bloodshed from spilling out into the streets. Given how well The Punisher fit into Brand New Day, bringing in heroes like Daredevil and Jessica Jones could give Spider-Man fresh dynamics to bounce off of, while giving those characters the biggest platform they’ve ever had. A loose adaptation of “Gang War” could be an epic crime drama blown up to superhero proportions.
Superior Foes of Spider-Man
Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1 – 17
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Marvel Comics -
Spider-Man Brand New Day Sony Pictures
Part of what made Spider-Man: Brand New Day so great was that the movie didn’t try to go bigger in scale, but dug deeper into the characters’ personal lives. If Marvel Studios wanted to continue that trend, maybe a Spider-Man film that draws heavily from the Superior Foes of Spider-Man might be the right call. The Superior Foes of Spider-Man focuses on a Sinister Six lineup made up of many of Spider-Man’s D-list and overlooked villains. It is a low-stakes crime comedy about a group of villains who might not be the best at their jobs, which makes them all the more relatable.
The leader of the Superior Foes of Spider-Man is Boomerang, who was seen briefly in Brand New Day‘s opening montage. In the separate comics, Boomerang also becomes Peter Parker’s roommate. Much of the drama and comedy comes from Peter Parker having to share a kitchen with one of his villains who doesn’t know his identity, and it also gives the filmmakers a chance to humanize some of these lower-level villains. What position does it put Spider-Man in to arrest his roommate if doing so means he won’t be able to afford the rent? It would put a new, comedic spin on Sony’s original Sinister Six plans while also making for a more character-centric, small-scale Spider-Man film.
The Hobgoblin Saga
Amazing Spider-Man #238-239, 244-245, 249-251 and Spectacular Spider-Man #85
Spider-Man: No Way Home both used a version of the Green Goblin and established that Oscorp doesn’t exist in the MCU, effectively taking that foe off the board. However, the comics introduced a Green Goblin replacement that might be the ideal fit for the films: Hobgoblin. The mystery around who the Hobgoblin was, known as “the Hobgoblin Saga,” was a major point in the comics during the 1980s.
The mystery behind the Hobgoblin creates a new dynamic for a Spider-Man film. Peter needs to investigate who is behind the mask in a classic Sherlock Holmes/Agatha Christie-style mystery. This could even allow the MCU to pay homage to Ned Leeds, Peter’s best friend, having been Hobgoblin in the comics, with Peter briefly suspecting his best friend and potentially driving a wedge between their newly restored friendship. The Hobgoblin is the perfect foe for the MCU’s Spider-Man.
“Back in Black”
The Amazing Spider-Man #539–543
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Sony Pictures Releasing -
Marvel Comics
Spider-Man getting the symbiote suit is sort of like the Dark Phoenix storyline; it’s been done so many times that it’s become tiresome. It would also feel a little redundant with the advanced spider powers subplot in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which makes Peter Parker more aggressive. However, all signs point to Peter Parker getting the Venom symbiote and black Spider-Man costume on Battleworld in Avengers: Secret Wars; Marvel will go down that path. But in traditional MCU fashion, they should put a unique spin on it.
In 2007, as a tie-in with the release of Spider-Man 3, Marvel Comics put Peter Parker back in a non-symbiote black suit in “Back in Black.” The storyline shows a more violent, brutal Spider-Man after the events of Civil War, hunting down the person who shot Aunt May. Now, there would certainly need to be some context changes to fit the MCU, but having Spider-Man wear the symbiote suit after Battleworld and becoming more violent when someone he loves is attacked than in other adaptations, where it taps into Peter’s more selfish tendencies. “Back in Black” could also merge nicely with the Agent Venom storyline, allowing the MCU to do something new with Venom that stands apart from the Tom Hardy trilogy.
“Never Let the Black Cat Cross Your Path”
The Amazing Spider-Man #194
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Black Cat Marvel Comics -
Black Cat Marvel Comics -
Marvel Comics
If there is one Spider-Man character who needs to make their big-screen debut, it is Felicia Hardy / Black Cat (no, we are not counting Felicity Jones’ cameo in The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Black Cat is essentially Spider-Man’s Catwoman, a thief who walks a fine line between hero and villain and serves as one of Spider-Man’s romantic interests. Yet unlike Spider-Man’s other love interest, she has no interest in Peter Parker, only Spider-Man. Spider-Man 5 could adapt her debut issue, “Never Let a Black Cat Cross Your Path,” as well as a few other iconic Black Cat stories to serve as the basis for a romance-fueled sequel.
Brand New Day puts Peter Parker and MJ’s relationship in a unique place: she now knows his identity but doesn’t remember him or the love they shared. This sets the stage for Peter Parker to begin to move on romantically from MJ, while potentially trying to maintain a friendship. Yet Black Cat’s arrival could complicate things for Spider-Man as they develop a romantic flirtation, while MJ may develop new feelings for Peter Parker as she gets to know him better. It is a classic love triangle that has been the backbone of some of the best Spider-Man dramas.
Spider-Island
The Amazing Spider-Man #666 – 673
“Spider-Island” was a 2011 mini-event series in which the inhabitants of Manhattan mysteriously gained powers similar to Spider-Man. With New York becoming ground zero for a Spider-Man-like virus outbreak, that certainly opens the door for plenty of Marvel crossovers that Sony likes in their Spider-Man movies. With how popular Zendaya is, giving MJ spider powers in a movie could make demand for Spider-Man 5 as big as, if not bigger than, that for Brand New Day.
If that wasn’t enough reason to adapt “Spider-Island”, it becomes even more exciting when one considers that this could be how the MCU explains the arrival of other web-slinging heroes like Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Cindy Moon as Silk. Tom Holland has teased wanting to pass the Spider-Man mantle to Miles Morales. Spider-Island could be a key film in the wider MCU, introducing Miles Morales and setting up a sixth film centered on Peter Parker training Miles Morales, positioning him to lead the franchise moving forward. “Spider-Island” not only continues the storyline of Spider-Man’s evolving powers established in Brand New Day, but also delivers an epic sequel that sets the stage for new characters and years’ worth of stories.
- Release Date
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July 29, 2026
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
