Why I’m Glad Daredevil Wasn’t In Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Published Aug 10, 2026, 9:00 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 DayAhead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's release, a Daredevil appearance in the new MCU movie almost felt destined. Having been Peter Parker's lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home, seeing Charlie Cox's Man Without Fear suit up and join forces with Spider-Man for his fourth movie made exciting sense. However, there are some solid reasons why Daredevil's absence from Brand New Day was likely for the best. It's worth noting that the first half of 2026 saw the release of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, bringing the Kingpin's time as New York's mayor to a close with a major clash between Fisk's Anti-Vigilante Task Force and Daredevil's growing resistance in New York. Based on a few elements from Spider-Man: Brand New Day's very first trailer, it definitely seemed as though the two projects would be more connected than they actually are. Appearances from the ninja group known as The Hand, Punisher, and even Fisk's former chief of staff in the first footage naturally generated several theories that Daredevil might make a new big-screen debut in Brand New Day, but it just wasn't meant to be. However, it can be argued that Daredevil's involvement might have been too much. The Hype For A Daredevil Appearance In Spider-Man: Brand New Day Was So Real Jojo Whilden /©Disney+/Marvel Studios /Courtesy Everett Collection The speculation surrounding Daredevil's potential appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day was more than understandable. I myself had some high hopes ahead of the movie's release in theaters. Having now seen the movie a couple of times, I do think Daredevil's involvement would have been very tricky. Following the finale of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, Matt Murdock was facing a very challenging status quo in the MCU, having publicly revealed his secret identity to the world before taking down Fisk and subsequently being incarcerated. While a third season of Daredevil: Born Again is set to release in early 2027, Murdock's future as the Man Without Fear is quite uncertain. Keeping that in mind, it's no wonder that the first trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day (released right as Daredevil: Born Again season 2 was releasing its final episodes) generated the Daredevil theories it did. After all, the secure DODC facility at the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (where Spider-Man fights The Hand members working for Director Bill Metzger) does look like it could have been a prison facility, and that Spider-Man himself was perhaps trying to break out and/or keep Matt safe from The Hand, who've been traditional villains of Murdock's and his fellow Defenders like Iron Fist in the MCU. Additionally, the inclusion of Jon Bernthal's Punisher in Brand New Day also fueled the fire, considering Frank Castle and Murdock's established history as reluctant allies. Seeing as how they've all crossed paths individually but not all together, several theories at the time suggested that Brand New Day would ultimately bring the MCU's peak street-level trio together for the very first time. However, Daredevil was nowhere to be found in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (and I'm less upset about it than I thought I'd be). Ultimately, A Daredevil Appearance Might Have Done More Harm Than Good There's admittedly an incredible amount happening in Spider-Man: Brand New Day even without Daredevil's involvement. Across the board, audiences see Spider-Man dealing with the DODC, The Hand, Scorpion, Hulk, Jean Grey, Punisher, and several other new allies and threats, all while simultaneously navigating major changes to his powers and a challenging personal life in the wake of No Way Home and no one remembering who he is. As such, trying to add Daredevil on top of all that could have pushed the movie too far. As much as I would love to see Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Punisher eventually join forces in the MCU, forcing Daredevil into this particular story could have made an already packed movie much weaker. As it stands, the new MCU movie achieved a remarkably solid balance overall. 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 More importantly, Matt's appearance could have undermined the ending of Daredevil: Born Again season 2. Matt's incarceration and public exposure are enormous developments that need time to breathe and develop. As such, breaking him out right away and putting him with other heroes would no doubt risk diminishing the show's cliffhangers. Lastly, throwing in Daredevil might have taken away from Spider-Man and Punisher, who easily have some of the best dynamics in the entire movie, growing from fellow vigilantes who can't stand each other into genuine friends. Peter even manages to get through to Frank in a way that few characters have managed before (not even Daredevil himself). Hopefully, a major Daredevil/Spider-Man team-up (with Punisher thrown in for good measure) is still in the cards, though I do hope it will be in a project where their team-up is the central focus. It wasn't the right time for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but the future feels wide open. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures. Spider-Man: Brand New Day 7/10 Release Date July 29, 2026 Runtime 145 minutes Cast Peter Parker / Spider-Man Four years after No Way Home, Peter Parker lives alone, forgotten by everyone he loves, and devotes himself entirely to being Spider-Man. As crime escalates, he experiences a dangerous physical change that threatens his survival while a mysterious surge in criminal activity introduces a powerful new enemy. Daredevil: Born Again 9/10 Release Date March 4, 2025 Network Disney+ Blind lawyer Matt Murdock uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York as the superhero vigilante Daredevil. Manages his bustling law firm, Murdock butts heads with former mob boss Wilson Fisk's political ambitions, leading both men toward inevitable confrontation time and again.