Disney isn’t exactly shy about stirring the pot lately. Over the last year, the company has made a string of moves that have both thrilled and frustrated fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But its latest decision might be one of the most surprising yet. A popular Marvel character — one many expected to return — is officially not part of the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
For months, fans believed this icon was being set up for a bigger role in Peter Parker’s next chapter. Instead, it appears that Marvel and Disney are clearing the board for a different kind of story, one that points directly toward their next major event film.
Setting the Stage for Doomsday
Everything Marvel does these days connects back to one big moment: Avengers: Doomsday. This crossover event is expected to shake up the entire MCU. To get there, the studio is making very deliberate choices about who gets screen time and when.
Minor appearances that may have occurred in the past are being set aside to focus on the larger narrative. And while some fans hoped Daredevil would swing back into Peter’s orbit, Marvel seems determined to streamline the cast as they build toward this climactic team-up.
Peter Parker’s New Reality
The last time we saw Spider-Man on the big screen, he was at his lowest point. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) ended with Peter Parker alone and anonymous. His friends no longer remembered him, Aunt May was gone, and he stepped out into a snow-covered New York City in a handmade suit, ready to start over.
This was a significant shift for the character. The tech was gone. The Avengers were gone. All that was left was a kid with spider powers and a mission to protect his city.
A Gritty Chapter Ahead
The next film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is reportedly set to adopt a gritty, street-level tone. Peter is expected to face villains like Scorpion and Tombstone — names that longtime comic fans know well. This signals a return to classic Spider-Man storytelling, where the hero takes on the city’s criminal underbelly on his own.
But as history shows, Spidey films love a good surprise cameo.
When Cameos Change Everything
Part of what made No Way Home unforgettable was its cameos. Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire appeared, creating a cinematic event that fans still talk about. Charlie Cox’s quick appearance as Matt Murdock, Peter’s lawyer, also had everyone buzzing.
That moment didn’t just feel like fan service. It felt like a setup. Many believed Daredevil was being positioned for a larger role in the next Spider-Man film. But that isn’t happening.
A Hero’s Official Exit
Charlie Cox recently cleared up months of speculation. Speaking about his upcoming projects, he addressed the rumors directly, saying, “I’m not in Spider-Man.” His schedule lines up with Marvel and Sony’s filming timeline, which means he won’t appear in Brand New Day.
For fans who were hoping for a team-up between these two New York heroes, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
What It Means Moving Forward
Cox’s absence is notable because Daredevil: Born Again only just released in March, and it was a huge success. Fans wanted to see that momentum carry into the Spider-Man films, especially since both heroes share the same gritty world.
But this doesn’t mean the crossover dream is dead. Tom Holland is expected to lead an entirely new Spider-Man trilogy after Brand New Day, which leaves plenty of time for a proper Daredevil team-up in the future.
A Long Game Strategy
Marvel often plays the long game. Just because something isn’t happening now doesn’t mean it won’t happen down the road. With Brand New Day setting the tone for a stripped-down, back-to-basics Spider-Man story, the absence of Daredevil could actually make their eventual team-up even more impactful.
For now, fans will have to wait a little longer to see Peter Parker and Matt Murdock fight side by side. But knowing Marvel, that moment will come. It’s just a matter of time.
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