The highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, July 31, marking the 38th entry in the sprawling franchise. This release will feature Tom Holland in his fourth solo outing as Peter Parker and his seventh overall appearance within the MCU.
Reprising their roles from previous "Spider-Man" films are Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. The film also signals the return of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk for his 11th MCU appearance and introduces Jon Bernthal on the big screen as Frank Castle/The Punisher, a character he previously portrayed across various Marvel television series.
For audiences looking to refresh their memory on the MCU's interconnected narrative before "Brand New Day," a select list of films and series is recommended. While "Captain America: Civil War" (2016) is noted as the initial introduction of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" serves as his first leading role. The "Infinity War" and "Endgame" films are also mentioned, notably as the last on-screen appearances for Bruce Banner.
"Spider-Man: Far From Home," set after the events of "Avengers: Endgame," sees Peter Parker, Ned, and MJ traveling internationally. The narrative involves Peter grappling with the death of his mentor, Tony Stark, while facing global threats and reluctantly taking on his Spider-Man duties.
The film "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is highlighted as a crucial watch, as it depicts three live-action Spider-Man universes colliding. This installment sees Peter Parker's identity revealed to the world, leading to a desperate attempt to undo the revelation with a spell from Dr. Strange that inadvertently opens the multiverse to villains from past "Spider-Man" films.
To prepare for Jon Bernthal's portrayal of Frank Castle in "Brand New Day," viewers are directed to "The Punisher: One Last Kill," a special presentation for which Bernthal also wrote the screenplay. Additional recommendations for understanding The Punisher's arc include "Daredevil" Season 2 and "Daredevil: Born Again" episodes, all available on Disney+.
"Thunderbolts*," which introduced the New Avengers team, is also suggested as optional viewing. This film may offer context for the potential appearance of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), a member of the New Avengers, in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," as hinted by MCU boss Kevin Feige.