One of Marvel’s most anticipated hero pairings may not happen in 2026 after all.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) is deep into filming in Glasgow, Scotland, with Tom Holland officially back as Peter Parker. The production, a Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures collaboration, is even bringing practical webslinging to the streets.
Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are set to return as MJ and Ned Leeds, though Zendaya’s role will reportedly be smaller this time due to other projects. Stranger Things favorite Sadie Sink will make her MCU debut in a role still under wraps. While the cast lineup is expanding, a key hero many expected to see in action alongside Spider-Man is now said to be sitting this one out.
An industry insider (via The Direct) reports that Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, better known to audiences as Daredevil, will not appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This comes after months of online chatter suggesting the blind vigilante might finally share the screen with Holland’s Spider-Man.
The move could disappoint fans who’ve tracked Daredevil’s recent MCU appearances–his crowd-pleasing cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, his role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, gritty return in Echo, and upcoming headline turn in Daredevil: Born Again. In the comics, Daredevil and Spider-Man’s paths cross often, making their cinematic meeting seem inevitable. But Marvel Studios appears to be holding off.
Instead, Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle–The Punisher–will step into the spotlight. Following his role in Daredevil: Born Again, Castle will reportedly play a larger part in Peter Parker’s latest adventure. The inclusion of Punisher continues Marvel’s push to integrate more street-level characters into the big-screen lineup, though without Daredevil this time around.
From a creative standpoint, the choice may be about focus. Brand New Day aims to reset Peter Parker’s world after the high-stakes fallout of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Alongside Punisher’s MCU big-screen debut, rumors point to the introduction of a savage Hulk and a fresh interpretation of J. Jonah Jameson’s Daily Bugle. Adding Daredevil to that mix could have risked narrative overload.
Looking at Marvel’s schedule, the studio’s pacing supports the idea of a long-term plan. The 2025 slate rolled out with Captain America: Brave New World in February, followed by Thunderbolts* in May, Ironheart on Disney+ in June, The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, and Eyes of Wakanda in August. Marvel Zombies arrives in October, while Wonder Man–under the Marvel Spotlight banner–wraps up the year in December.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will premiere on July 31, 2026, followed by Avengers: Doomsday in December. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the ensemble event will unite the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Wakandans, and the original X-Men against Doctor Doom. The saga will then conclude in December 2027 with Avengers: Secret Wars.
If Marvel is waiting to bring Daredevil and Spider-Man together, those larger crossover events could be where it happens. The contrast between Matt Murdock’s grounded street-level style and the vast chaos of the Multiverse could make for a moment worth saving.
The report that Charlie Cox, who recently voiced the leading role in the critically-acclaimed “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” video game, won't be appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes after another report that A-list star Pedro Pascal had finished the Avengers: Doomsday filming process amid the First Steps box office decline.
How do you feel about the lack of Daredevil in the presumably street-level Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie? Let us know in the comments down below!
