14 Years Later, Tom Holland Reunites With One Of His First Co-Stars In Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Published Jul 31, 2026, 11:55 PM EDT Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero. With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention. Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spider-Man: Brand New Day is packed with exciting surprises, from brand-new villains and unexpected team-ups to plenty of comic book references (including full-on comic cover recreations). However, one of the movie's best hidden details is something many viewers probably won't notice until the credits. Remarkably, Tom Holland secretly reunites with one of his very first co-stars in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Years before he was cast as Spider-Man, Tom Holland made his feature film debut in 2012's The Impossible. Starring alongside Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, Holland earned widespread acclaim for his emotional performance as Lucas Bennett. 14 years later, Spider-Man: Brand New Day features a wonderfully fun nod to the very beginning of Holland's impressive acting career. Continuing a very fun Spider-Man tradition, Peter Parker receives a brand-new AI assistant in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, voiced by one of his first co-stars from The Impossible. Spider-Man's New A.I. Assistant Is Voiced by Naomi Watts One of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's coolest new additions is E.V., Peter Parker's newest artificial intelligence assistant, presumably created by Peter Parker himself during his years in isolation since the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Integrated directly into Spider-Man's new suit (inspired by both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's costumes), E.V. monitors Peter's vitals and web-shooter systems, analyzes combat scenarios, and assists with everything from navigation to tactical support while he's swinging through the streets of New York in the new MCU movie. E.V. quickly establishes herself as one of the movie's most useful supporting roles, shown caring for Spider-Man's well-being even when Peter is ignoring/avoiding his struggles. However, the real surprise is who's providing E.V.'s voice, with the credits confirming that Marvel Studios cast Naomi Watts to serve as the new AI's voice, resulting in a fun reunion with Tom Holland more than a decade after the pair first shared the screen together. Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland'sSpider-Man Trivia 🏠Homecoming2017 ✈️Far From Home2019 🌌No Way Home2021 😈VillainsSinister… 🤖MCUAvengers THWIP! LET'S GO → 01 Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man? AAvengers: Age of Ultron BCaptain America: Civil War CSpider-Man: Homecoming DAvengers: Infinity War ✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments. NEXT → 02 In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he? AThe Vulture (Adrian Toomes) BThe Shocker (Herman Schultz) CThe Scorpion (Mac Gargan) DThe Tinkerer (Phineas Mason) ✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises. ✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene. NEXT → 03 Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI? AFriday BEdith CKaren DJocasta ✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming. NEXT → 04 In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name? AWilliam Ginter Riva BAldrich Killian CJustin Hammer DQuentin Beck ✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe. NEXT → 05 In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world? AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London ✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson. NEXT → 06 With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell? AWong BWanda Maximoff CDoctor Strange DKarl Mordo ✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here. NEXT → 07 Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend? ANed Leeds BFlash Thompson CHarry Osborn DMiles Morales ✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.” NEXT → 08 At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do? AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is ✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all. REVEAL MY SCORE → Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating / 8 Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander? ↻ SWING AGAIN Back in 2012, Holland made his feature film debut in The Impossible, portraying Lucas Bennett opposite Watts, who played his mother, Maria Bennett. The disaster drama absolutely launched Holland's film career, showcasing the acting abilities that eventually helped him land the role of Spider-Man just a few years later, beginning with 2016's Captain America: Civil War. Because E.V.'s role is entirely vocal, some viewers may not immediately recognize Watts during their first viewing. Once they do, though, it becomes a genuinely touching callback to the actor Holland has credited more than once as one of his very first mentors upon entering the industry, long before he became the MCU's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Spider-Man's Past A.I. Assistants In The MCU Are Pretty Cool Too E.V. also continues a surprisingly fun tradition throughout Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy. After all, Peter Parker has rarely lacked helpful A.I. companions, and each one has its own clever casting history. In 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter's first A.I. was named Karen and was memorably voiced by Jennifer Connelly. This was a very fun MCU connection, seeing how she's married to Paul Bettany, whose voice first brought Tony Stark's J.A.R.V.I.S. to life before he eventually appeared on-screen as Vision. Then there was E.D.I.T.H. in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, the advanced Stark system Peter inherited through a pair of Tony's glasses. Rather than casting a major Hollywood name, Marvel cast Dawn Michelle King to voice E.D.I.T.H., who's worked behind the scenes as one of Marvel Studios' longtime editors for years, contributing to MCU projects dating all the way back to 2008's Iron Man. Now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day adds Naomi Watts to the small and unique group. Between Karen, E.D.I.T.H., and now E.V., Spider-Man's artificial intelligence companions have become a small yet very fun tradition. Additionally, Watts' casting gives a meaningful nod to the start of Tom Holland's acting career, which, of course, has come a remarkably long way since The Impossible. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.