“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is packed with Marvel Cinematic Universe Easter eggs, many of which seem designed to tease where the franchise could be heading next. But when it comes to its Marvel Comics roots, how closely does the movie really stick to the source material? Looper took a closer look at the biggest changes, callbacks, and creative liberties, and you can watch the full breakdown in the video above.
The best place to start is the comic book storyline that shares the movie’s title. In Marvel Comics, “Brand New Day” arrives after “One More Day,” a storyline that remains one of the most divisive Spider-Man arcs ever published. In “One More Day,” Aunt May is shot, leaving Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson desperate enough to strike a bargain with Mephisto. He saves May, but the cost is devastating: The world forgets Peter and MJ’s marriage, as well as Peter’s secret identity, which had been exposed during “Civil War.”
The film version of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” does echo that idea of Peter living with the consequences of a world that no longer remembers who he is. However, the MCU gets there by a very different route. The movie builds directly on the ending of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” where Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts a spell that makes everyone forget Peter Parker in order to stabilize the multiverse. Unlike the comics, though, that spell does not undo tragedy. Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) stays dead, and when “Brand New Day” begins, Peter (Tom Holland) is truly alone, separated from both May and MJ (Zendaya).
Spider-Man: Brand New Day changes William Metzger and Sara Grey
Sony Pictures Releasing
While “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” shares some emotional DNA with the comic arc, several characters and story details have been heavily reworked. One major example is William Metzger, played by Tramell Tillman, who serves as the director of the Department of Damage Control in the film. Metzger oversees the kidnapping, torture, and eventual death of Sara Grey (Olivia Booth-Ford), a brutal chain of events that puts him directly in Jean Grey’s (Sadie Sink) path. In the comics, Metzger is far less prominent, though he does lead an anti-mutant militia and publishes The Militia Press. Since the film leaves him on the run, it is possible the MCU is setting him up to become even more extreme in his anti-mutant beliefs — and perhaps to launch that publication in a future story.
Sara Grey is another character who has been significantly reshaped for the MCU. In “Brand New Day,” she possesses telepathic powers similar to Jean’s. In Marvel Comics, however, Sara has spent most of her history without powers, while still supporting Jean and the mutant community. That status quo shifted in 2025’s “Phoenix” #10, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Alessandro Miracolo. After Sara’s death, Jean uses the Phoenix Force to resurrect her from memory. Sara then takes on the name Beacon and gains the ability to awaken dormant mutant powers.
The MCU has rarely treated Marvel Comics as a rigid blueprint, instead using the source material as inspiration for new stories and character arcs. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continues that approach, blending familiar comic book themes with major changes for the big screen. To see more of the ways the film departs from the comics, check out Looper’s full video above.
