An Early Spider-Man: Brand New Day Story Featured Daredevil

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day had an earlier version of the script featuring the Man Without Fear, as confirmed by co-writer Chris McKenna.

Speaking to the Bulwark Goes to Hollywood podcast, McKenna confirmed that Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, was featured in an early draft of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

In the early version, Spider-Man had left New York and was operating as a hero in Southeast Asia. Peter eventually discovers that an imposter is posing as Spider-Man back in New York and using his suit and web fluid.

The imposter had trademarked the Spider-Man name, leading Peter to receive a cease-and-desist notice. Peter then hires Matt Murdock to represent him and fight the legal battle against the imposter.

McKenna described the storyline as a fun idea that was scrapped as part of a different version of the movie.

McKenna also revealed that Kraven the Hunter was originally considered for the movie. The plan would have seen Kraven turn New York into a “Home Alone” trap for Spider-Man, setting up booby traps across the city.

Shadow King was also considered as the movie’s villain before Jean Grey. The plan was for the telepathic villain to search for his physical body, which had been hidden somewhere in New York.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Zendaya as MJ, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova/Black Widow, Liza Colón-Zayas as Detective Jean DeWolff, Tramell Tillman as William “Bill” Metzger, Marisa Tomei as May Parker, Naomi Watts as E.V., Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, Keith David as the Narrator of the Spider Video, Marvin Jones III as Tombstone, Olivia DeJonge as Sara, Taryn Marie Butler as Apartment Girl, Johnna Myers as Building Manager, Billy Clemens as Ramrod, Zabryna Guevara as Sheila Rivera, Nina Rose Galano as Maidey, Maikol Roque as EJ, Jamel Davall Rodriguez as NYC Street Driver, Ethan Sokontwe as Scooter Kid, Tariye Peterside as Tour Bus Guide, and Phoenix Di Sebastiani as the DODC Escort Guard.

After the record-breaking global success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks an entirely new chapter for Peter Parker and Spider-Man.

Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult living entirely alone, having voluntarily erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves. Crime-fighting in a New York that no longer knows his name, he’s devoted himself entirely to protecting his city — a full-time Spider-Man — but as the demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crimes gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he has ever faced.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed around $2.45 billion worldwide, and Sony has extended its theatrical run until November 16. This gives the film the longest theatrical window for a Sony movie since Spider-Man: No Way Home.