Tom Holland has hinted that the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie might include a famous scene from the comics involving Spider-Man and the Punisher, bringing it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The new Spider-Man movie comes out in just two days, and it will be Tom Holland’s last for now—a fresh start for the actor and a conclusion to his time as the character. This is his fourth solo film as Spider-Man; the previous one, Spider-Man: No Way Home, ended with Peter Parker completely forgotten by everyone he knew after Doctor Strange wiped his memory from their minds.
Brand New Day makes Holland the first live-action Spider-Man actor to lead four solo movies.
The upcoming film will introduce Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, marking the first time the character appears on the big screen and creating an exciting new partnership with Spider-Man. Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal have a strong friendship in real life, which is expected to translate into great on-screen chemistry. In fact, Holland encouraged Bernthal to try out for the role, and Bernthal had previously helped Holland practice his lines for Spider-Man.
During a conversation with Tatiana Hullender from ScreenRant at the premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Tom Holland was asked if he and Jon Bernthal had recreated a famous scene from Civil War – where The Punisher carries an injured Spider-Man. Surprisingly, despite being known for accidentally revealing plot details, Holland remained tight-lipped about whether they’d filmed it or not.
Ever since Jon Bernthal was cast, fans have been speculating about a possible recreation of the iconic Brand New Day scene. Tom Holland’s recent comments haven’t denied this possibility, which is likely to increase those predictions – though he didn’t actually confirm it will happen.
This wouldn’t be the only time the movie references the characters’ shared past in comic books. The Punisher first appeared as a villain against Spider-Man in 1974, tricked into pursuing him before discovering his mistake. The story arc Brand New Day could begin with Frank and Peter as enemies, eventually leading them to team up.
The famous scene originates from the 2006 comic book Civil War #5, created by writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven. At first, Peter Parker sides with Iron Man and the Superhuman Registration Act, and he even makes a public announcement revealing his identity as Spider-Man.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already presented its own take on the Civil War story, so a Brand New Day adaptation wouldn’t need to rehash the Superhuman Registration Act to achieve a similar visual impact. It would still be a clear and appreciated reference for fans of the comics.
Perhaps most significantly, a meeting between Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher would highlight their core differences beautifully. Peter Parker won’t take a life, but Frank Castle often doesn’t hesitate, creating natural conflict and the potential for eventual understanding.
It’s possible Holland was just joking, but now Brand New Day has a great chance to finally show that iconic *Civil Warera scene on screen. Even if the movie doesn’t copy it perfectly, the clash between Spider-Man and Punisher’s different approaches promises an interesting first encounter in the MCU.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases in theaters July 31, 2026.
2026-07-29 00:39