Marvel rumors usually come and go pretty quickly, but some of them hit a nerve so hard that fans immediately start arguing like the movie already came out.
That’s the situation surrounding Spider-Man 4 right now.
A report from a well-known MCU scooper claims a familiar Star Wars actor could be joining the next Spider-Man movie. And while casting announcements usually excite fans, this one has done the opposite. Many believe Marvel may be bringing in one of the most disliked characters from recent Spider-Man comics.
If that’s true, the backlash may only be getting started.
Spider-Man Still Feels Like the MCU’s Most Emotional Franchise
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has always felt different compared to other Marvel heroes. His story isn’t just about saving the city. It’s about Peter constantly losing pieces of his personal life in the process.
Fans have watched him go from a teenager desperate to prove himself to someone who has been forced to make sacrifices most MCU characters never face. That’s why Spider-Man updates always feel bigger than usual.
When Peter Parker’s world changes, it usually changes in ways that hurt.
No Way Home Broke Peter Parker Completely
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) ended with Peter at his lowest point.
Aunt May died, and Peter lost the closest thing he had left to family. But the emotional gut punch didn’t stop there. Doctor Strange’s spell erased Peter from everyone’s memory, including MJ and Ned.
Peter didn’t just lose his girlfriend and best friend. He lost the entire life he had built. Nobody remembered him, and nobody was waiting for him anymore.
Still, he kept going. He stayed Spider-Man, fighting crime in a world where he was utterly alone.
Brand New Day Will Push Peter Into a New Era
Marvel’s next Spider-Man movie is expected to be titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day and is currently scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
The film is rumored to take place four years after No Way Home (2021), showing a Peter Parker who has spent years living anonymously. Instead of being surrounded by friends, he’ll reportedly be dealing with a criminal mystery while carrying the weight of his past.
Several villains have been connected to the project, including Scorpion (Michael Mando) and Tombstone (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III). Boomerang has also been rumored, with speculation that Tom Holland’s brother, Harry Holland, could potentially take on the role.
Other villains, like Chameleon, Tarantula, Viper, and Harry Osborn, have also been discussed online, though those names remain unconfirmed.
The Casting That Has Fans Fuming
The biggest controversy comes from a rumor shared by scooper Daniel Richtman. According to the report, Eman Esfandi from Ahsoka (2023) has reportedly been cast as MJ’s new boyfriend in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Fans immediately began connecting the dots and landed on one character: Paul Rabin.
Paul was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man comics during Zeb Wells’ run starting in April 2022. He became MJ’s boyfriend during a period where she and Peter were separated, and many comic readers hated the character almost instantly.
Fans often criticized Paul as a bland and frustrating addition whose primary purpose was to keep Peter and MJ apart.
Why the Theory Isn’t Going Away
The rumor has stuck because it fits into the MCU timeline. MJ and Ned were headed to MIT at the end of No Way Home (2021), and Paul’s comic background includes scientific study. If MJ met someone new in college, it wouldn’t feel unrealistic.
Some fans also believe Esfandi resembles Paul, though Richtman has reportedly said Esfandi will appear in the film without a beard.
At this point, it’s still speculation. Esfandi could be playing Paul, another Marvel character, or an original role entirely.
What Fans Are Bracing For
If MJ truly has a new boyfriend, it adds another emotional blow to Peter Parker’s story. MJ and Ned don’t remember him, so the big question becomes how they could get pulled back into his life.
Whether Marvel is setting up a short-term obstacle or something bigger, fans are already worried that Brand New Day could be another painful chapter for Spider-Man.
