Warning: major spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day follow.
Tom Holland’s first three Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man films each ended with a dramatic change to Peter Parker’s life. Aunt May learned his secret in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the world discovered his identity in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Doctor Strange’s spell erased that knowledge from everyone’s mind in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day takes a different approach. Its main story reaches a reasonably complete conclusion, leaving Peter with a clearer situation than before. However, several characters and visual details point towards possible future developments.
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Peter Parker rebuilds his friendship with Ned
Peter finishes the film recognising that total isolation is damaging his mental wellbeing. After No Way Home, he avoided telling Ned and MJ who he was because he wanted to protect them. By the conclusion, he decides that some connection is worth the risk.
MJ learns about their former relationship through the note Peter intended to give her at the end of No Way Home. Peter then chooses to introduce himself to Ned. Their old high-school secret handshake triggers a striking reaction: Ned remembers it, apparently breaking through Doctor Strange’s spell. The moment strongly suggests that the two friends will become close again.
MJ’s future with Peter remains less certain. She tells him that she does not love him, but her invitation for Peter to spend time with her and Ned leaves room for their relationship to change. The invitation is social rather than romantic, although MJ’s current boyfriend is portrayed as unpleasant.
Bill Metzger escapes Damage Control
Department of Damage Control director Bill Metzger, played by Tramell Tillman, is revealed as the film’s true villain. He escapes during the confusion that follows Spider-Man being accidentally shot by the Punisher.
That escape leaves the door open for Metzger’s return. Damage Control may also be reorganised, particularly because the organisation appears to have employed the Hand.
Bruce Banner and the Punisher’s next steps
Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, presumably returns to teaching after his latest transformation into the Hulk. Whether students will feel quite as comfortable attending his classes is another question.
John Bernthal’s Punisher is likely to retreat to his booby-trapped hideout and resume his familiar routine, including eating chilli. His relationship with Peter has nevertheless shifted: after nearly killing Spider-Man by mistake, he appears to show a little more compassion.
Where is Jean Grey going?
Jean Grey, played by Sadie Sink, receives the most open-ended conclusion. She learns that her sister died because of experiments carried out by the Department of Damage Control, leaving her largely alone apart from her new friendship with Spider-Man.
After Peter is shot, the Punisher explains that Jean keeps Peter’s mind alive while his body heals. Once Peter recovers, Jean leaves the city on a bus headed for an unknown destination.
The bus sequence may contain a clue. It is filmed from above as the vehicle travels upwards towards the top of the frame, which could indicate a journey to upstate New York. That area is traditionally associated with Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. The film has not established whether Professor X exists in this universe, but Jean has few obvious alternatives.
Could Jean Grey appear in the next major MCU film?
Avengers: Doomsday appears to be concentrating on the X-Men from the former Fox films. Introducing an entirely new X-Men team at the same time as bringing back the previous group could be too much for one film. Neither actor who previously played Jean Grey in a Fox film is listed as appearing in Doomsday, however, so Jean’s eventual direction remains unclear.
The story may eventually reveal Jean’s destination and introduce a new Professor Xavier. If that happens, this version of the character may finally appear without hair, after James McAvoy’s Professor X took several films to resemble the familiar comic-book design.
While you wait for the next chapter, superhero fans can explore a full-size arcade machine, a compact bartop arcade or a custom project built from DIY arcade kits.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theatres now.
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