Spider-Man: Brand New Day is swinging into theaters with massive buzz, and it's not just because of its stellar reviews or record-breaking box office projections. The latest Tom Holland adventure is packed with surprises—Punisher, Hulk, and even a tease of the X-Men via Jean Grey—but it's the post-credits scene that has fans buzzing about what's next for the web-slinger.
The scene opens on the "Spidey Tracker," an app created by Ned Leeds to monitor Spider-Man's whereabouts. We see Spidey in New York, but then the camera zooms out, leaving Earth entirely, and lands on a mysterious planet labeled "Location Unknown." It's a clear signal that Peter Parker's next MCU appearance will be in Avengers: Secret Wars, and that could be a game-changer for the franchise.
A Classic Comic Book Connection
For those unfamiliar with Marvel lore, the original Secret Wars storyline from the 1980s was a landmark event that introduced the concept of the crossover comic. It also gave Spider-Man his iconic black suit, which later turned out to be an alien symbiote. That symbiote eventually bonded with Eddie Brock to create Venom, one of Spider-Man's most formidable foes.
While the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to draw more from the 2015 Jonathan Hickman run, it wouldn't be surprising to see Peter acquire the symbiote in the film. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo have long cited Secret Wars as a story they've wanted to bring to life, and Tom Holland recently revealed that Sony and Marvel had plans to merge their universes, which could have led to a meeting between his Spider-Man and Tom Hardy's Venom.
"They were building this universe and they had these plans to merge the worlds at some point, and I think that they just never found the right time to do so," Holland said. "I think it was on the cards, and there were never any battles of 'We want you to be in this movie' and 'I don't want to be in this movie.' That never happened."
That long-awaited crossover might finally happen in Secret Wars, and it could also pave the way for another fan-favorite character: Miles Morales. In the comics, Miles became Spider-Man after his universe's Peter Parker died, and he played a key role in the 2015 Secret Wars. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has said he's waiting for the Spider-Verse trilogy to conclude before introducing Miles to the MCU, and with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse arriving before Secret Wars, the timing could be perfect.
Tom Holland's portrayal of Peter Parker has always been about growth, and giving him the symbiote suit would be another step in that evolution. It would also allow future films to explore Venom in a fresh way, potentially setting up a showdown that fans have been dreaming of for years.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters. For more on the MCU's future, check out our first look at Doctor Doom and the X-Men and Avengers: Doomsday's record ticket sales.
