Spider-Man: Brand New Day's director of photography (DP) accidentally posted some spoiler-heavy images from the upcoming movie, highlighting the return of Tom Holland's web-slinger and a familiar face from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Following the massive success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, anticipation has been building for the fourth installment of Holland's Spider-Man. Slated for a 2026 release, Spider-Man 4 has been making headlines, with the most recent eye-popping news featuring the reported inclusion of Jon Bernthal's Punisher.
Aside from the Punisher's appearance, one of the much-talked-about rumors about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the addition of one original Avenger: Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner (aka Hulk). The Hulk's rumored return to the big screen alongside Spider-Man is significant because some have pointed out that it would fix what the last two Avengers movies did to the character by bringing back a much more Savage Hulk. A new update from one of the movie's crew members may have spoiled what's next for Hulk in the MCU.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day cinematographer Brett Pawlak posted a moodboard on his Pinterest account that seemingly hints at Hulk's appearance in the next big-screen installment of Tom Holland's web-slinging hero.
Pawlak is using this Pinterest collection for Spider-Man 4 to compile visuals that will seemingly inspire certain scenes of the film and how they're shot. There are numerous cinematic shots of Spider-Man, some from previous movies like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Into the Spider-Verse, and others from the comics and other art. However, only one other superhero is featured on the mood board.
An image of Spider-Man landing on top of the Hulk is seen, potentially indicating that the MCU's Green Rage Monster will appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Another image shows Spider-Man fighting against a much more Savage Hulk, supposedly spoiling the return of the character to his original version:
The next image appears to be inspired by Insomniac's Spider-Man as it shows the web-slinger wall running from the games:
Part of the moodboard also depicts Spider-Man (wearing a suit close to what fans saw at the end of No Way Home) clinging to a wall:
The last image shows Spider-Man saving a woman (seemingly Mary Jane Watson) from harm:
Hulk's upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day gives fans a chance to learn more about what the character has been up to since his appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, while possibly pushing the Avenger to the limit to bring out his Savage Hulk persona (with him perhaps being manipulated by one of the villains in the movie).
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, plot details of Spider-Man: Brand New Day are still shrouded in secrecy, but it is expected to address the ramifications of No Way Home's ending, where Doctor Strange wiped everyone's memory of Peter Parker. Spider-Man 4 brings back Tom Holland as the titular web-slinger alongside some familiar faces, such as Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Zendaya as MJ, and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is slated to hit theaters on July 31, 2026.
How Savage Hulk Returns in Spider-Man 4 (Theory)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has many moving parts due to the inclusion of Frank Castle (Punisher) and the rumored additions of Scorpion and Mister Negative. However, it's possible that what brings them to cross paths with Tom Holland's Spider-Man is none other than Bruce Banner's Hulk.
In Marvel Comics, Mister Negative has a connection to the Darkforce, meaning that he has the power to corrupt or brainwash certain individuals. If Mister Negative ends up being part of Spider-Man 4, he could corrupt Bruce Banner and turn him into the Savage Hulk once again as a way to challenge Spider-Man.
While this would erase all the research and methods Bruce utilized in the past to turn him into Smart Hulk, becoming Savage Hulk once again would be beneficial for the character's future since it would be just in time for the next two Avengers movies.
Given Peter Parker's brilliance, he could still find a way to pacify and outsmart the Savage Hulk and turn him into the much normal Hulk (not the smart one seen in the post-Avengers: Endgame era so far).
Seeing Hulk return to his roots would be a great way to elevate the character ahead of his possible appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, mainly because the Earth's Mightiest Heroes will need Hulk's formidable strength and unpredictability in the looming fight against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.
