A small and crucial new plot detail for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has sparked confusion over its Marvel timeline position — but there's a very easy explanation that clears things up

• Fresh details about Spider-Man: Brand New Day's story have been revealed
• They appear in the script's first three pages, which have been shared publicly
• A small but crucial plot point has sparked confusion about its Marvel timeline position

Marvel fans have been left scratching their heads over Spider-Man: Brand New Day's place on the Marvel timeline after new story details recently came to light.

Yesterday (April 29), Entertainment Weekly (EW) revealed how the Marvel movie will begin by publishing the first three pages of its script.

The screenplay, which has been annotated by director Destin Daniel Cretton, stars Tom Holland and Zendaya, and other department heads, provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making a film of this scale.

Of all the interesting things that the script reveals about Spider-Man 4's opening sequence, though, it's a small but crucial plot detail midway down the very first page that's caught the collective eye of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fanbase. Mild spoilers immediately follow for Brand New Day, so turn back now if you don't want to know any more.

Underneath the subheading that reads 'Int[erior] Peter's Apartment - Day', the screenplay reveals that Brand New Day's story will begin nine months after its forebear — Spider-Man: No Way Home — ended.

It's this specific element that's puzzled fans. Why? Because, when Sony released an official plot brief alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day's first trailer in mid-March, said synopsis confirmed that Peter Parker's next solo adventure would be set four years after No Way Home.

Considering Spider-Man's last film took place in late 2024, Brand New Day should be set sometime in the year 2028, but that 'nine months later' line indicates it'll open in mid- to late 2025 — so, what's going on?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Marvel timeline position explained

Thankfully, there's a very simple explanation that clears up this particular conundrum — and the key to answering it lies in the script's third page, whose final sentence reads 'Begin montage'.

What does that mean? Spider-Man: Brand New Day might begin at some point in 2025, but its primary plot will take place in 2028.

Indeed, its initial sequence will reunite us with Tom Holland's webslinger in 2025. However, the montage that follows, which should show Spidey fighting and defeating myriad criminals we've see in the Marvel Phase 6 film's first trailer, such as Tarantula and Boomerang, will catch us up on what Spidey's been up to since we last saw him before Brand New Day's primary narrative starts. In that sense, then, the montage will act as a time jump between its opening scene and the present day storyline that follows.

Want to know more about Peter Parker's next MCU film? Find out everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Once you're done with that article, check out my Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast and character guide, and get the lowdown on how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order if you're planning a rewatch before Spider-Man 4 arrives in theaters on July 31.

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