Who is the rumored new villain in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is already one of the most confusing upcoming MCU movies, mainly because no one is fully sure who the main villain is. While set leaks and casting rumors keep appearing online, fans are still debating what the actual central threat will be.

Several villains have reportedly been linked to the film already. These include Tombstone (rumored to be a major crime boss filling the Kingpin power vacuum) and Scorpion (with Michael Mando finally expected to suit up). If true, this suggests Spider-Man 4 will feature a “Gauntlet” of threats in a crime-heavy New York setting.

Tramell Tillman as William Metzger

However, a new report from Nexus Point News claims the true antagonist might be political rather than physical. Tramell Tillman (Severance) has reportedly been cast as William Metzger, the new head of the Department of Damage Control (DODC).

In the comics, Metzger is a niche villain associated with anti-mutant hate groups. His inclusion suggests the film will bridge the gap between Spider-Man’s street-level issues and the rising anti-mutant sentiment leading into the X-Men reboot.

Is Eman Esfandi playing MJ’s new boyfriend?

According to a viral rumor shared by industry scooper Daniel Richtman, Ahsoka actor Eman Esfandi has been cast in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The report claims he will play the new boyfriend of Zendaya’s MJ, whom she meets at MIT.

If accurate, this makes perfect sense within the MCU timeline. After No Way Home, MJ no longer remembers Peter Parker due to Doctor Strange’s memory spell. While audiences know they belong together, MJ has realistically moved on to a new life without the emotional baggage of dating a superhero.

Why do fans think the character could be “Paul”?

Many Spider-Man fans immediately connected this rumor to Paul Rabin, a controversial character introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man comics in 2022 during Zeb Wells’ run.

In the comics, Paul becomes MJ’s partner during a long separation from Peter, resulting in a storyline that was almost universally rejected by readers. Fans viewed Paul as bland, uninteresting, and a frustrating plot device designed solely to keep the iconic couple apart.

Interestingly, the comic version of Paul was a researcher in symbolic logic and quantum mechanics. This detail aligns suspiciously well with the MCU, as MJ and Ned are currently studying at MIT—a hub for exactly that kind of research.

Will Marvel adapt Paul’s hated storyline?

Even if Esfandi is playing a character inspired by Paul, Marvel Studios likely will not adapt the comic storyline directly (which involved alternate dimensions and magical Mayan gods). The MCU typically borrows names and roles but rewrites the context.

If a “Paul-like” figure appears, he will likely function as a grounded, realistic obstacle. He represents the normal, safe life MJ built after forgetting Peter—a life Peter promised not to disturb. Whether fans like it or not, seeing MJ happy with someone else might be the emotional core of Brand New Day‘s conflict.