An actor from the Marvel Cinematic Universe has hinted at a long-anticipated comeback as a classic Spider-Man villain in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The wall-crawler’s story is one of the few MCU sub-franchises to earn a fourth installment, with the film expected to swing into theatres in 2026. Tom Holland will reprise his role as Peter Parker under the direction of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton.
As the Spider-Man saga continues to expand, tying up every teased plot thread, cameo, and Easter egg has become increasingly challenging. Marvel has faced criticism for leaving post-credits teases and comic book setups unresolved, particularly throughout Phases 4 and 5. Fortunately, one of those long-dormant storylines appears to be coming back into focus.
Brand New Day will pick up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter Parker’s identity was erased from the world’s memory. Interestingly, the returning villain in question seemingly never learned Peter’s real name. That villain is Scorpion, a.k.a. Mac Gargan, one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous foes. Introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Gargan (played by Better Call Saul’s Michael Mando) struck a deal with Adrian Toomes, better known as the Vulture. During the Staten Island Ferry sequence, Peter’s AI, Karen, flagged Gargan’s “extensive criminal record, including homicide.”
In one of Homecoming’s post-credits scenes, Gargan and Toomes were shown behind bars together. Since then, the character has been absent from the MCU. But recently, Mando fueled speculation with an Instagram post captioned, “st!ng #spiderman,” hinting that the Scorpion’s tail may strike in Brand New Day.
In the black-and-white photo, Gargan’s distinctive scorpion tattoo is clearly visible, matching the one shown in Homecoming’s post-credits scene. The extent of Michael Mando’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains uncertain. He’ll be returning alongside Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk/Bruce Banner and Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher/Frank Castle. Since Gargan’s brief introduction in Homecoming, the MCU has undergone major shifts, from the Snap and a five-year time jump to Doctor Strange’s spell erasing Peter Parker’s identity. These events have reshaped the Marvel universe, leaving Mando’s character’s role wide open. The narrative slate has essentially been reset.
However, with Peter Parker also getting a fresh start, this “brand new day” is an ideal moment for Spider-Man to face off against a classic, underused street-level villain. As Peter embraces his role as the friendly neighbourhood hero, the film promises a return to his roots. Whatever unfolds, Michael Mando’s talent ensures a fresh, compelling take on Scorpion’s volatile nature in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The film is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
