'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' mysterious red ninjas may have revealed a major Marvel connection

While Marvel has not identified the characters, comic book experts have pointed to The Hand as the likely explanation

A new detail from Spider-Man: Brand New Day has sparked intense speculation among Marvel fans, with the red-clad ninjas seen in promotional footage believed to be members of the infamous criminal organisation known as The Hand. The theory gained further traction after Collider published a breakdown of the group's potential role in the upcoming film.

The red ninjas first caught fans' attention in footage and marketing materials released for Tom Holland’s fourth solo Spider-Man outing. While Marvel Studios has not officially identified the characters, several outlets and comic book experts have pointed to The Hand as the most likely explanation.

For comic book readers, The Hand is one of Marvel's oldest and most dangerous criminal organisations. Introduced in 1981 during Frank Miller's acclaimed run on Daredevil, the group is a secretive order of assassins with deep ties to mysticism, dark magic and resurrection rituals. Over the years, they have become some of Daredevil's most iconic enemies while also clashing with characters such as Wolverine, Elektra and other street-level heroes.

Their apparent inclusion in Brand New Day has fuelled speculation that Marvel is pushing Spider-Man further into the street-level corner of the MCU following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously indicated that the new film would focus on a more grounded Peter Parker operating in New York City, with Jon Bernthal's Punisher also confirmed to appear.

The Hand's presence could also strengthen ties between Spider-Man and the growing Daredevil side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The organisation previously appeared in Marvel's Netflix-era shows, including Daredevil, Iron Fist and The Defenders, where they served as a major threat connected to characters such as Elektra and Stick.

However, not everyone is convinced the red ninjas are exactly who they appear to be. Some fans have suggested Marvel may be using The Hand as a misdirect and that the masked fighters could instead be linked to another Spider-Man villain, such as Mister Negative and his gang known as the Inner Demons. Similar marketing tricks were used during the promotion of Spider-Man: No Way Home to conceal major plot points.

Whatever their true identity, the mysterious ninjas appear to be a significant part of the film's action. Trailer footage shows Spider-Man battling multiple red-clad attackers as he navigates a darker chapter of his life following Doctor Strange's spell that erased Peter Parker's identity from the world's memory.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Tom Holland, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on July 31, 2026. With The Hand, the Punisher and several classic Spider-Man villains reportedly involved, the film is shaping up to be Peter Parker's most grounded, and potentially most dangerous, adventure yet.