Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to answer one of the biggest lingering questions from Spider-Man: No Way Home, and star Tom Holland has revealed a major spoiler. According to Holland, one person in the Marvel Cinematic Universe still remembers that Peter Parker is the hero behind the mask. This revelation comes as the new movie, hitting theaters on July 31, 2026, deals with the fallout of Doctor Strange’s memory-erasing spell.
At the end of No Way Home, Doctor Strange cast a spell that made the entire world forget Peter Parker’s identity. The spell erased every memory of him, including from his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). Now, Holland has teased that the spell did not affect everyone.
Tom Holland’s Big Tease About the Mystery Character
During an interview with IGN Benelux, Holland dropped the hint when asked about who remembers Peter’s secret. “No one remembers that Spider-Man is Peter Parker, apart from … one person,” the actor said before stopping himself from revealing more. His co-star Zendaya added that people still remember Spider-Man, they just do not connect him to Peter Parker anymore.
Holland explained how the creative team handled the memory spell’s effects on MJ and Ned. “The idea we landed on was that they remember Spider-Man, they remember their interactions with him, they just don’t remember who he is,” he said. He also revealed a cute detail about Ned: “Ned is trying to work out who [Spider-Man] is because he wants to thank him.”
Who Could Be the One Person Who Remembers?
Fans have developed several theories about the identity of this mysterious character.
Sadie Sink’s Mysterious Character
The most popular theory points to Sadie Sink’s unnamed character. The actress appears in the trailers using psychic abilities to freeze others, leading many to believe she is playing Jean Grey from the X-Men. As a powerful mutant telepath, Jean Grey could have resisted Doctor Strange’s mental tampering. Her red hair also matches the iconic look of the X-Men character.
The Hulk Connection
Another strong possibility is the Hulk, not Bruce Banner. The trailers show that Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) does not remember Peter when they meet, but the Hulk’s personality might not have been affected. This theory comes from the comics, specifically the Immortal Hulk: Great Power storyline, where the Hulk calls Peter by his real name while he is wearing the Spider-Man mask. Banner wears a gamma inhibitor device that keeps him from transforming, which means the Hulk’s consciousness might have been dormant during the memory spell.
Other Potential Candidates
Some fans think Wong (Benedict Wong) could be the one who remembers. He mentioned wanting no part in Strange’s spell. Others suggest the piece of the Venom symbiote left behind in the MCU might have retained its memories. The symbiote was not affected by the spell, and it could have found a new host. A few fans even believe Holland might be joking and referring to himself.
How the Memory Spell Works in Brand New Day
Holland explained that people remember Spider-Man’s actions but not the person behind the mask. This means MJ and Ned recall their friendship with Spider-Man but have no idea he was Peter Parker. Zendaya told Empire that the situation is “heartbreaking.” “As someone who cares about the characters and cares about these films, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s so heartbreaking,’” she said. MJ has moved on and has a new romantic interest played by Eman Esfandi while Peter watches from a distance.
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Comic Book Inspiration for Brand New Day
The film takes inspiration from the 2008 comic storyline of the same name, which followed Peter Parker’s life after a reality-altering event. In the comics, Peter made a deal with Mephisto to save Aunt May, which resulted in everyone forgetting his secret identity. The MCU has adapted this concept for the big screen, but with a twist. Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026.
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