SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Rumored Casting Update Revealed - Is Mister Negative Coming To The MCU?

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Rumored Casting Update Revealed - Is Mister Negative Coming To The MCU?

Another casting call for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has found its way online today, and it sounds an awful lot like Marvel Studios might be looking to add the villainous Mister Negative to the movie...

By JoshWilding - Apr 05, 2025 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is finally starting to take shape, and Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures are currently rounding out the movie's cast. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will join Tom Holland, but beyond that, we only have vague character descriptions to go by. 

The latest comes our way from scooper Daniel Richtman; he claims that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is looking to cast an Asian actor between the ages of 30 and 50 for a major role. 

While there are many characters this could be for, the prevailing theory online is that we'll finally see the web-slinger battle Mister Negative in live-action. The villain was introduced as one of the big bads of the "Brand New Day" era in the comics and has taken centre stage in the Spider-Man video games. 

On the page, Martin Li is a Chinese immigrant turned crime lord who gains his powers after being experimented on with a drug called "Shade," transforming him into a superhuman with a split personality.

As Mister Negative, he wields dark energy, can corrupt others' morals with a touch, and leads the Inner Demons gang in New York's Chinatown. His Martin Li persona is a philanthropist running the F.E.A.S.T. shelter, helping to mask his criminal side. The villain's powers stem from the Darkforce, granting him strength, agility, and a distinctive black-and-white appearance.

A frequent Spider-Man foe, he's driven by revenge against his former captors and a desire to control the underworld. His dual nature, benevolent Li versus ruthless Negative, creates a fascinating internal conflict, making him a complex antagonist for Peter Parker. 

Marvel Studios' previous Spider-Man movies have introduced the concept of F.E.A.S.T., though Li wasn't mentioned or referenced. 

Tom Holland wasn't in Las Vegas for Sony's presentation earlier this week because he's currently shooting Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. However, the actor did appear via video message. 

"I am so sorry I can’t be with you," he told those in attendance. "I am halfway around the world shooting a movie. I know we left you with a massive cliffhanger at the end of 'No Way Home,' so 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is a fresh start. It is exactly that. That’s all I can say."

While Mister Negative isn't a classic Spider-Man villain, he does have a storied history with the web-slinger since debuting way back in 2008.

His presence could also lead to the wall-crawler turning to a hero like Shang-Chi for help, something we have seen happen in the comics (in one of writer Dan Slott's first post-"Brand New Day" stories, in fact). 

Spider-Man 4 has been officially dated for July 31, 2026, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton helming a script penned by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.

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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/5/2025, 11:28 AM
Mr. Negative is great! Personally I'd prefer to see him come to power after Fisk is taken down by BOTH Spidey and Daredevil
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 4/5/2025, 11:38 AM
God NO!!!
MartianManHuntr
MartianManHuntr - 4/5/2025, 12:00 PM
@Comicmoviejunki - Elaborate

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MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/5/2025, 11:39 AM
An Asian actor doesn't mean an Asian character when it comes to woke liberal activist filmmakers.

It could be alternate reality Doc Oc or Lizard or Sandman or almost anyone.

OT:

Warner Bros. are using that suit and collar and S insignia in Superman (2025), because they have the rights to those.

Original Superman is entering the public domain in maybe about five years.
MartianManHuntr
MartianManHuntr - 4/5/2025, 11:58 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Kek, he could be new Ironman

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TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 4/5/2025, 11:48 AM
He's one of my favorite villains thanks to the game, so hopefully they do him justice.
cadunovaes01
cadunovaes01 - 4/5/2025, 11:52 AM
Mister Negative is a great foe, but I think that videogame fans (from Ps games) will enjoy it much more than comics fans
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 4/5/2025, 11:59 AM
Def Mr. Negative!
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 4/5/2025, 12:13 PM
Mr. Negative before Hobgoblin? Its perfect time to introduce Hobs, we just had a Green Goblin. He could find a stash left by Sony's Norman. Mr Negative is just an ok villain. Even in the comics, his appearences are very forgettable. Its a shame Sony wasted Kraven. Its also a shame they don't use Kingpin and Daredevil. That movie would print money and maybe lead to Daredevil mnovies which it probably where its going to end up eventually.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/5/2025, 12:23 PM
I hope it is Mister Negative , I think he would make a good antagonist for Peter at this stage.

Given that May worked at and seemed to run FEAST in the MCU , I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter volunteers there now during which it falls under the new ownership of Martin Li who seems to be a benevolent philanthropist and becomes friendly with the former…

However Peter out on patrol one night notices criminal activity happening that ties itself to the shelter and one new name on the lips of everyone in the criminal underworld , Mister Negative so now Peter has to save his aunts legacy and all the good work she did from being “corrupted”.

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 4/5/2025, 12:35 PM
Somebody gave me shit for saying this title reveal will bring about more and more rumors that will mean nothing. You're welcome random stupid internet stranger
JstaKIDfrmBKLYN
JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - 4/5/2025, 12:53 PM
I'm down for Mr. Negative, but including the criminal underworld via him is such a wasted opportunity not to have Kingpin, as well. So, ripe for a gangland war street-level storyline.
IKidYouNotMan
IKidYouNotMan - 4/5/2025, 9:26 PM
@JstaKIDfrmBKLYN - god wouldn’t that be great. Spidey, Black Cat, DD, Kingpin, Mr Negative. Unfortunately it doesn’t sound very “cash money” to Sony since they can’t shoehorn RDJ/Doom into it so they’re not interested in NYC street level Spider-man
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/5/2025, 2:59 PM
i dont wanna say anything Negative here
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 4/5/2025, 3:20 PM
@harryba11zack - User Comment Image

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JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 4/5/2025, 7:04 PM
Who? Who the [frick] is this? Why? Out of all the rogues in Spidey's gallery they pick him?
Is it true that Anna Taylor-joy is playing Black Cat?
IKidYouNotMan
IKidYouNotMan - 4/5/2025, 9:22 PM
@JacobsLadder - He’s one if the only, decent “contemporary” Spider-Man villain in the last twenty years.
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 4/6/2025, 1:00 AM
@IKidYouNotMan - I'd take a dozen classic villains over him.

My guess 🤔💭...
They'll turn Martin into an Asian mod of "Uncle Ben Stark." Li names his new shelter in honor of his good friend May Parker.

The Prowler (played by Childish Gambino) loses his nephew in this reality.

Miles is brought into our world via multiverse "magic" 🤨, and begins living in said shelter, where Peter happens to work between ESU & Secret vigilante heroics.

Sound about right?

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