A newly surfaced set photo from Spider-Man: Brand New Day has generated speculation among fans about the direction of Zendaya’s character, MJ.
The image shows Tom Holland posing alongside Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, reprising their roles as Peter Parker’s close companions MJ and Ned.
Photo: Reddit
The fourth instalment in Holland’s Spider-Man series has been teased as a return to a more grounded, street-level story following the multiversal events of No Way Home.
That film concluded with a memory wipe that erased Peter’s existence from the minds of his friends, including MJ and Ned, leaving uncertainty about their roles in the upcoming story.
In the latest photo, Zendaya is seen with her hood pulled up, which some fans interpret as an attempt to conceal newly dyed red hair.
In Marvel Comics, Mary Jane Watson’s striking red hair is a defining feature of the character, and speculation is building that Zendaya’s portrayal may be moving closer to that comic-accurate depiction.
Fans have shared their theories on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), with comments such as “Red hair coming” and “MJ needs to have red hair under that hoodie.” Another wrote, “Zendaya’s hiding her hair ‘cause she dyed it red for more comic accurate MJ.”
Another detail drawing attention is Batalon’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shirt. In No Way Home, both MJ and Ned were accepted into MIT after the memory reset, suggesting his costume may indicate the film will follow that thread.
Fans debated online whether the shirt was simply personal attire or an intentional wardrobe choice for Ned Leeds.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to release in cinemas on July 31 2026. Further details on casting and storyline remain under wraps as production continues.
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