Brand New Day’? Why Was She on Set?

Zendaya first swung into the Marvel universe in 2017 as MJ, a sharp, soulful, and perfect match for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. From the moment she appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming, her presence brought warmth and wit to the chaotic comicverse franchise, grounding the trilogy with real emotions. After the bittersweet ending of No Way Home, though, many thought her story had wrapped. But now, whispers about her involvement in the saga are swirling yet again, thanks to her being spotted on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The unofficial on-set snap begs the question: Could Zendaya be returning to the Spider-Verse, or is her visit just smoke without fire?

Zendaya spotted on Spider-Man set, sparking return rumors

Tom Holland and Zendaya were spotted on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day recently. The latter, however, was reportedly there only to support the former and was not involved in filming. A capture shared on X by MyTimeToShinsHello showed the engaged duo dressed casually in sweaters and pants, chatting comfortably. While the sighting sparked speculation, Zendaya’s return to the Spider-Verse remains unconfirmed as of now, despite several rampant rumors affirming the same.

Unconfirmed reports online suggest Zendaya is set to reprise her role as MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but in a limited capacity. According to insider Daniel Richtman, cited by The Express Tribune, she has travelled to Glasgow, where the forthcoming installment of the franchise is currently shooting. However, she is not yet filming any major scenes. Her brief appearance is said to further the storyline from No Way Home, where Peter Parker is erased from everyone’s memory, including hers. While MJ’s screen time may be short, her presence is expected to carry emotional weight, possibly even featuring a reconnection between her and Peter. Zendaya’s rumored limited involvement in Brand New Day, when thought about, could be due to her other professional commitments.

What is in Zendaya’s bag apart from Spider-Man? From revered TV drama to epic sci-fi adventure and more, her future slate is anything but ordinary.

Are Euphoria, Dune, and more keeping Zendaya away from Spider-Man 4?

Zendaya has been prominently occupied with the long-awaited third season of Euphoria, which finally began filming earlier this year. HBO confirmed in February that principal cast members, including Zendaya, are back, with production underway in Los Angeles after multiple delays. The show is expected to premiere sometime in 2026 and will feature a narrative leap forward with a time jump that sees its characters navigating life beyond high school.

At the same time, Zendaya is also filming Dune: Messiah, the third installment in Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-winning sci-fi franchise. Principal photography for this began only last month in Budapest, with the actress reprising her role as Chani alongside several returning cast members, including Timothée Chalamet and Jason Momoa, who recently underwent a shocking transformation for the film. Zendaya will also star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey as well as Shrek 5. With such major commitments, it is easy to see how her schedule could limit involvement in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Do you think Zendaya will return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Let us know in the comments below!