Mark Ruffalo returns as Hulk in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'

By: Shawn
‎Mark Ruffalo is officially returning as the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth installment in Tom Holland’s Marvel-Sony franchise. The casting solidifies months of speculation and adds heavyweight muscle to an already star-studded superhero lineup. Production begins this month in England.
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‎Mark Ruffalo returns as Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, joining Tom Holland, Punisher, and Scorpion for Marvel’s explosive 2026 sequel.
‎Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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‎Tom Holland will once again don the iconic Spider-Man suit, this time alongside Marvel veteran Ruffalo, who hasn’t appeared on the big screen as Bruce Banner since Avengers: Endgame. The new film continues the tradition of pairing Holland with established MCU heroes—following in the footsteps of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange.
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‎Michael Mando will also return as the Scorpion, a character he first portrayed in Spider-Man: Homecoming. His reappearance deepens the franchise’s connections to earlier entries and adds another layer of continuity for longtime fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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‎Jon Bernthal is set to make his official big-screen MCU debut as the Punisher. It’s his first film appearance as Frank Castle since Punisher: War Zone in 2008, making Brand New Day a pivotal moment for Marvel’s street-level heroes. His inclusion signals a darker, grittier tone than past Spider-Man outings.
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‎Story specifics remain under wraps, but early hints suggest the film will embrace Marvel’s classic “hero vs. hero” trope before uniting the protagonists against a greater threat. The title Brand New Day nods to a notable Spider-Man comic arc, teasing possible thematic parallels.
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‎Destin Daniel Cretton, known for helming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will direct the upcoming sequel. Screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers return to pen the script, continuing their long-running involvement in the Spider-Man universe.
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‎Mark Ruffalo’s return follows appearances in several major MCU entries, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok, and Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. His last MCU cameo also came under Cretton’s direction in Shang-Chi, cementing a collaborative history with the director.
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‎Michael Mando brings with him the intensity he displayed across six seasons of Better Call Saul, where he played Nacho Varga. His sci-fi background from Orphan Black rounds out his genre credentials.
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‎Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to hit theaters on July 31, 2026. Sony and Marvel have declined to comment on the casting news or plot developments.

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