Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have eagerly awaited any news about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, especially since by the end of No Way Home, Peter Parker was erased from everyone’s memory. With filming having begun earlier this week and several casting confirmations made, interest in the film has been at an all-time high.One such casting confirmation was the return of Michael Mando as Mac Gargan. Mando’s brief appearance in Homecoming hinted at a larger arc that fans had hoped would continue at some point. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on August 1, 2025, that Michael Mando will return as Mac Gargan, also known as Scorpion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. His return was later corroborated by other media outlets.Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Brand New Day is written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers and is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.The film continues Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man’s, story after No Way Home, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon, among others.Michael Mando returns as Mac Gargan in Spider-Man: Brand New Day View this post on Instagram Instagram PostMichael Mando will return as Mac Gargan, aka Scorpion, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Mando last appeared in Homecoming, where Gargan was introduced as a criminal captured by Spider-Man. In the film’s post-credits scene, Gargan was shown speaking with Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture, played by Michael Keaton, in prison, setting the stage for a possible future villain arc.Marvel has not provided further details on Gargan’s role, and no official quotes have been released regarding the character’s development in the film. However, his inclusion aligns with the film’s broader emphasis on street-level threats and character-driven narratives in the post-No Way Home chapter of Peter Parker’s journey.Cast, story, and production details for Spider-Man: Brand New DaySpider-Man: Brand New Day releases in theaters on July 31, 2026 (Image via Marvel)Spider-Man: Brand New Day features a lineup of familiar MCU characters and new additions. Mark Ruffalo returns as Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk after his last live-action appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. He follows the tradition of previous veteran MCU heroes mentoring Spider-Man, after Iron Man in Homecoming, Nick Fury in Far From Home (although it turned out to be Talos in disguise), and Doctor Strange in No Way Home.Jon Bernthal reprises his role of Frank Castle/Punisher, making his first big-screen appearance in the MCU after his earlier role in the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. Kevin Feige confirmed Bernthal’s inclusion and noted that pairing Spider-Man with other street-level characters like the Punisher was intentional, especially since the anti-hero debuted in a Spider-Man comic.Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are also expected to reprise their roles as MJ and Ned Leeds, though the extent of their involvement remains unconfirmed. Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas have also joined the cast in undisclosed roles, expanding the ensemble.The film is the fourth installment in the MCU’s Spider-Man series and the 38th MCU film overall. It is part of Phase Six and continues the story after the events of No Way Home.Recently, Kevin Feige hinted at the direction the film would take during a roundtable interview with several media outlets.He said that this time around, Marvel’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man would focus more on “street-level crime as opposed to world-ending events.”Filming for Spider-Man: Brand New Day began in Glasgow, Scotland, under the working title Blue Oasis. Location shots in Glasgow are being used to depict parts of New York City, and additional filming is taking place at Pinewood Studios in England. Cinematographer Brett Pawlak, a frequent collaborator with Destin Daniel Cretton, is serving as the film’s cinematographer.Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to release in theaters on July 31, 2026.