Spider-Man: Brand New Day Villain Guide

Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton has shared another batch of villain visuals, giving fans a closer look at two threats whose presence in the story still feels deliberately underlit—at least for now.

Posting on Instagram to spotlight costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays, Cretton paired the attention-getting characters with costume-focused images. One set of shots highlights Boomerang, while another teases a fighter tied to the ninja monk clan known as The Hand.

For many viewers, this is meaningful precisely because the film’s villain lineup has been treated like a puzzle box. With a large roster of antagonists already identified but only lightly explained, fans are left asking the same questions: Who is the “hidden” main enemy at the center of the plot? How many of the other foes will barely register beyond an opening sequence? And what exactly is going on with Sadie Sink’s role? With only a handful of weeks remaining before launch, Sony and Marvel have still chosen to keep multiple pieces of the picture out of frame.

Boomerang is the focus of some of the sharpest speculation. So far, trailers have barely shown him, which has led to the idea that his limited appearance is intentional misdirection. One popular theory argues that Boomerang will ultimately be revealed as MJ’s new boyfriend—portrayed by Eman Esfandi, who is known for Star Wars: Ahsoka. The pitch is that it could be a fun twist: MJ drawn to yet another person with a secret identity, and a more low-key Spidey vs. Boomerang dynamic that echoes comic-book setups. However, the suit Cretton posted appears to depict someone who is not Esfandi in costume, complicating the theory.

Still, fans aren’t ready to dismiss it. Some think Cretton’s choice of photo may be a calculated move—perhaps even capturing a stunt performer in the outfit rather than the actor associated with the theory. Since the Instagram post is explicitly meant to showcase attire and character design, not confirm casting, there’s room for misdirection. And from a storytelling perspective, misleading visuals can be an effective way to keep audiences uncertain right up until the reveal.

The next reveal is the female ninja who appears to be positioned as a leader figure for The Hand in the trailers so far. The person shown in the image tied to this costume appears to be Fan Xiaoshuang, credited as a stunt double and martial artist. She has previously shown up in other Marvel projects, including The Marvels and Cretton’s own Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Whether she is actually meant to headline this particular character or is serving as another stunt performer remains unclear—at least until the film itself explains who’s who.

Why these costume teases matter more than another villain reveal

Cretton’s post is framed around clothing and craftsmanship, but it still lands as more than a simple behind-the-scenes moment. Spider-Man films thrive on identity games—who someone is, who they pretend to be, and who they really answer to—and the franchise has typically used costumes as part of that misdirection. By spotlighting Boomerang and a likely The Hand leader through wardrobe visuals, the director is effectively telling fans: pay attention to what’s visible, because what’s visible may not be the whole truth yet.

Boomerang’s thin trailer presence has fueled theories, and the new suit imagery could either reinforce or undercut them.
For The Hand, the highlighted ninja look suggests the film is staging a clear hierarchy—possibly with a lead figure fans have been trying to identify.
The focus on costume design implies that filmmakers want audiences to study details rather than rely on faces or casting assumptions.
With multiple mysteries still unresolved—main villain identity, brief antagonists in montage scenes, and Sadie Sink’s situation—new visuals keep the speculation engine running.

Fans vs. clues: the Boomerang MJ theory and why it refuses to die

The MJ boyfriend speculation around Boomerang is a good example of how modern franchise marketing turns every frame into a potential breadcrumb. The theory’s appeal is simple: it layers a familiar Spider-Man rhythm (secret identities and personal entanglements) onto a character who has barely been shown. It also gives fans a reason to expect a rivalry tone that could feel more grounded and character-driven than a full-on team-up battle.

At the same time, the new costume image injects doubt. If the suit looks like it belongs to someone other than Eman Esfandi, then either the theory is wrong—or the marketing strategy is even more layered than viewers assumed. Fans now have to consider a practical possibility: a stunt double could be wearing the outfit for the costume reveal. That distinction matters, because a costume spotlight doesn’t always indicate the person behind it. It can be about design, materials, silhouette, and impact—factors that can be captured by anyone in the right gear.

In other words, the theory isn’t just surviving on hope; it’s surviving because the evidence is ambiguous in a way that’s consistent with how movie promotions often work.

The Hand’s apparent leader: Fan Xiaoshuang, martial arts pedigree, and the unknown casting answer

The Hand sequence speculation is following a different route. Instead of focusing on relationship dynamics, fans are trying to identify a leadership figure based on who looks like they’re in charge during the trailer moments. Cretton’s post adds a name-like lead through the tagged image: Fan Xiaoshuang.

Xiaoshuang is described and recognized as both a stunt double and martial artist, with prior Marvel experience that includes The Marvels and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where Cretton himself was involved. That track record makes her a plausible fit for a commanding ninja role. But the lingering uncertainty is the same as it was with Boomerang: being the person in costume doesn’t automatically settle whether she is the featured character or another performer standing in for the action-heavy scenes.

Until the film lands, this remains a question of intent. Are the marketing clues pointing to a true narrative lead—or simply highlighting the performers who help bring the action choreography to life?

Release timeline, press-tour momentum, and what’s still being held back

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to arrive on July 31. In the period leading up to release, the press tour is already underway, and Tom Holland continues to talk through what fans might expect as the wider Marvel storyline approaches major events.

Holland has described that “one person” still remembers Peter Parker is Spider-Man, and he has also discussed his possible involvement in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars—suggesting he will appear in those projects. Even with those larger-universe comments floating around, the movie’s own immediate mysteries remain stubbornly intact, including which villain is the central “secret” enemy, how many antagonists are likely to be limited to brief appearances, and how Sadie Sink’s part fits into the overall setup.

Cretton’s Instagram message also served as a direct credit roll for the film’s costume work. He wrote that, as the release of @spidermanmovie gets closer, he’d like to introduce viewers to many of the artists and storytellers who studied every detail of every frame to get the movie ready. He emphasized that the production was shaped by thousands of passionate creators, with “human fingerprints” across everything audiences will see.

He then singled out costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays, noting that she has created costumes for films including Thunderbolts, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Star Trek Beyond, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Blade. Cretton closed by saying working with Milkovic Hays and her team was a joy, and he’s looking forward to audiences seeing their “beautiful art” on the big screen.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cast and Characters: Who’s Confirmed for the MCU Sequel?

We’ve not got long to wait now until Spider-Man: Brand New Day finally arrives on July 31. In the meantime, the movie’s press tour has already begun, with the ever-chatty Tom Holland revealing that “one person” still remembers Peter Parker is Spider-Man, and discussing his potential involvement in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — which he has suggested he will feature in.

Images credit: Instagram/Destin Daniel Cretton.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social