Spider-Man Recap: Everything That Happened Before Brand New Day
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day is almost here. But before Tom Holland returns as Marvel’s web-slinger, there’s one important thing to remember. The Marvel Cinematic Universe no longer remembers Peter Parker.
The emotional ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home left Peter completely alone after Doctor Strange cast a spell that erased him from everyone’s memory. With Brand New Day set to continue his journey, here’s a recap of how Peter Parker reached this point, along with a breakdown of the multiverse.
Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man deal
Long before Peter Parker swung into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man’s film rights belonged to Sony Pictures. The studio first launched Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire between 2002 and 2007 before rebooting the franchise with Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
Sony later expanded its superhero slate with films centred on Spider-Man-related characters such as Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter. Unlike the MCU, these films were only loosely connected and largely functioned as standalone stories rather than parts of one tightly interconnected universe.
Following the mixed reception to The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Sony and Marvel Studios reached a landmark agreement in 2015 that allowed Spider-Man to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe while Sony retained the character’s film rights. The partnership gave audiences a new version of Peter Parker played by Tom Holland.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Holland officially entered the MCU in Captain America: Civil War. Tony Stark recruited the teenage Peter Parker to help Team Iron Man during the Avengers’ internal conflict. Interestingly, Peter was already operating as Spider-Man when Tony discovered him. Instead of retelling the famous radioactive spider origin story, Marvel skipped straight to Peter’s life as a neighbourhood superhero.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Fresh from the events of Civil War, Peter is eager to prove that he deserves a permanent place among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. While juggling homework, school life, friendships and superhero responsibilities, he crosses paths with Adrian Toomes, better known as the Vulture, a salvager who illegally weaponises alien technology left behind after the Battle of New York.
Throughout the film, Peter constantly tries to impress Tony Stark. However, after risking everything to stop Vulture without the Avengers’ help, he realises that being Spider-Man isn’t about wearing an expensive suit or carrying the Avengers title. Peter turns down Tony Stark’s invitation to become a full-time Avenger, choosing instead to remain the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. In this film, Ned, MJ and Aunt May figure out that Peter is Spider-Man.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Peter’s quiet life doesn’t last long. When Thanos arrives on Earth searching for the Infinity Stones, Peter joins Tony Stark, Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy in a desperate mission to stop the Mad Titan.
During the battle aboard Ebony Maw’s spaceship, Tony officially welcomes Peter into the Avengers, fulfilling the promise he had earlier declined in Homecoming. However, after Thanos completes the Infinity Gauntlet, he wipes out half of all life in the universe with a single snap. Peter is among those who disappear during the event later known as the Blip.
Five years later, the surviving Avengers reverse the Snap during Avengers: Endgame. Peter returns alongside billions of others to fight in the final battle against Thanos. Although the heroes ultimately win, Tony Stark sacrifices his life using the Infinity Stones, leaving Peter devastated by the loss of his mentor.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Set after Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home explores Peter’s struggle to move on after Tony Stark’s death. Trying to enjoy a school trip across Europe with MJ, Ned and his classmates, Peter hopes to leave superhero responsibilities behind, at least for a while. Instead, Nick Fury recruits him to battle mysterious creatures known as the Elementals. Peter also meets Quentin Beck, who introduces himself as a superhero from another universe. Presenting himself as Mysterio, Beck earns Peter’s trust and eventually convinces him to hand over E.D.I.T.H., Tony Stark’s powerful satellite-controlled defence system.
But Beck is not a superhero at all. He is a former Stark Industries employee who uses advanced holographic technology, drones and illusion effects to create fake disasters before pretending to save the day and become the world’s next great hero. Peter eventually exposes Mysterio’s deception and defeats him.
However, before dying, Beck records a manipulated video that frames Spider-Man for the destruction in London. In the film’s mid-credit scene, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts the footage to the world while revealing Spider-Man’s true identity.
Understanding the Multiverse before Spider-Man: No Way Home
The multiverse is the idea that countless parallel universes exist simultaneously. Every universe has its own versions of heroes, villains and major events. While most realities remain separate, certain events, powerful magic or advanced technology can create openings between them.
No Way Home made the multiverse personal for Peter Parker by bringing together characters from previous Spider-Man film franchises.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
With the world now knowing he is Spider-Man, Peter’s life spirals out of control. His friends and family become targets, college admissions are disrupted and public opinion turns against him.
Desperate for a solution, Peter asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell that will make everyone forget Spider-Man’s identity. During the spell, Peter repeatedly changes the conditions, making the spell to backfire. It tears open the boundaries between universes. Soon, villains from earlier Spider-Man franchises begin entering the MCU, including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman and the Lizard, all of whom know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man in their own realities.
As the multiversal rift grows larger, two unexpected allies arrive. Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker.
Rather than simply sending the villains back to the universes where many of them would face death, Holland’s Peter insists on curing them, believing they deserve a second chance. The decision comes at a devastating cost when Green Goblin kills Aunt May, whose final words, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility,” finally give Peter the lesson that has defined Spider-Man for decades.
After curing the villains, the cracks in reality continue expanding as countless beings who know Peter Parker’s identity begin pushing through the collapsing multiverse. Peter then asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell that will make everyone forget the existence of Peter Parker. Unlike the original spell, this one doesn’t just hide Spider-Man’s identity. It removes Peter Parker himself from the memories of every person who ever knew him. Although Spider-Man still exists as a superhero, Peter is left completely alone. The film ends with him moving into a small apartment, sewing a brand-new homemade suit and beginning life from scratch.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Alongside Tom Holland, the film also stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo, among others. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, it will be released in India on July 30. Spider-Man: Brand New Day picks up after the events of No Way Home. Peter is no longer backed by the Avengers, has no access to Stark technology and isn’t recognised by the people who once meant the most to him. Instead, he returns to the streets of New York as a true friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, rebuilding his life. The film marks a fresh chapter for the character.
Also Read: Everything We Are Watching This Week (July 27-August 2): Spider-Man Brand New Day & More