Avengers: Doomsday Means Spider-Man: Brand New Day Arrives First, and Fans Hope This Means It'll Be a More Grounded Story

Disney’s recent announcement of delayed release dates for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars has reshaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming slate, leaving fans with new expectations—and fresh theories—about how the next chapter will unfold.

Avengers: Doomsday is now set to premiere on December 18, 2026, a seven-month delay from its original date. Its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, will arrive a full year later on December 17, 2027. While these delays push back the grand MCU convergence, they’ve also shifted the timeline for another major player: Spider-Man.

Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is scheduled to return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hitting theaters on July 31, 2026. This places the film nearly five months before Doomsday and over a year ahead of Secret Wars. The change means Brand New Day will no longer be sandwiched between the two Avengers events, but instead serve as a lead-in to the larger saga.

Previously, there was speculation that Sony and Disney were aligning Brand New Day with the multiverse-heavy arc of the MCU, potentially weaving it tightly into the Doomsday and Secret Wars narrative. However, with the new release order, fans are hopeful that the film will take a more grounded, street-level approach—focusing on Peter Parker’s personal journey in the aftermath of No Way Home, where his identity was erased from public memory.

“This completely changes things for Spider-Man 4,” one fan noted on Reddit. “It doesn’t have to fit in between both Avengers films anymore. That gives it room to be its own thing.”

Another added, “If Brand New Day isn’t delayed, it probably means it’s not part of the multiverse battle. It could just be a New York story—exactly what we need.”

How to Watch Sony's Spider-Man Universe in Chronological Order

View 10 ImagesMany fans welcome the shift, hoping it signals a return to Spider-Man’s roots—swinging through the streets of New York, dealing with personal challenges, and facing off against classic villains. The casting of Liza Colón-Zayas, known for her role in FX’s The Bear, has fueled speculation that the film may introduce elements of Miles Morales’ world, possibly even setting up the young Spider-Man’s live-action debut.

Meanwhile, Disney has pulled an untitled Marvel project slated for February 13, 2026, from its release calendar. Industry insiders believe this slot was likely reserved for the long-gestating Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali. Its removal suggests the film may be delayed indefinitely—or possibly reworked entirely, potentially missing this phase of the MCU altogether.

Additionally, two other release dates—November 6, 2026, and November 5, 2027—have been updated to list “Untitled Disney” films. If these are not Marvel-related, the MCU could face a lighter theatrical presence in the coming years.

Looking ahead, 2025 will see The Fantastic Four: First Steps launch on July 25, marking the start of the new era. On the streaming front, Disney+ will debut Ironheart and Wonder Man this year, followed in 2025 by Daredevil: Born Again (Season 2), a Punisher special, and Vision Quest, Paul Bettany’s standalone series, which has already begun production.