Earlier this week, a leaked still from Spider-Man: Brand New Day showing Jon Bernthal's Punisher alongside Sadie Sink's red-haired character, rumoured to be Jean Grey, appeared on social media.
As we explained at the time, it had been enhanced with AI—hence the Gemini logo—but it was supposedly a real image. That was "confirmed" by our sources and several social media insiders/scoopers.
Lending credibility to the image's legitimacy is the fact that posts on several of the accounts that first shared it now feature "Media Not Displayed - This image has been removed in response to a report from the copyright holder" messages, where the shot used to be.
That's arguably proof enough that it's the real deal. After all, there's no reason why Sony would hit these accounts with DMCA strikes if they weren't sharing something that didn't belong to them. You'll recall that a blurry first look at Tombstone similarly leaked last year.
In other Spider-Man: Brand New Day news, The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has confirmed that he won't return as Happy Hogan after previously appearing in Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home.
"I can give you a big spoiler: I'm not in it. He lost his memory," the filmmaker started. "I'm not part of [it], he doesn't remember me anymore. He might meet me again someday, I don't know. But isn't that how the last one ended with him forgetting everything? So now it's all about his new. I don't know anything about it. If I'm in it, they'd better hurry up, 'cause they're running out of time."
While Favreau has got a little mixed up over who forgot what (the world forgot Peter Parker, meaning Spider-Man's secret identity was restored), it seems there will be no reunion with Happy for now.
You can hear more from the actor and director in the player below.
Following the record-breaking success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day begins a brand new chapter for Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult and living alone after erasing himself and the memories of him from those he loves.
In a New York that no longer knows his name, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to protecting his city as Spider-Man full-time. But as the demands on him grow, he is put under increasing pressure. This triggers an unexpected physical change that threatens his existence, while a strange wave of crime emerges - and gives rise to one of the most dangerous threats he has ever faced.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's cast includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo.
The movie is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Rachel O'Connor.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, 2026.