‘Spider-Man 4’ Must Revive This 23-Year-Old Peter Parker Tradition

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As Tom Holland takes the lead in the newest Spider-Man films, director Daniel Destin Cretton has a chance to revisit a long-standing tradition of the character. Since Spider-Man joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016, his stories have differed from previous versions. For instance, MJ is portrayed as Michelle Jones (Zendaya) instead of Mary Jane, and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) famously delivered the line, “with great power comes great responsibility,” to Peter before her passing.

The next Spider-Man movie, currently titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will essentially begin a fresh storyline for the character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s scheduled to be released on July 31, 2026, which is over four years after the previous film, and this break allows filmmakers to revisit a popular element from Peter Parker’s history.

One important part of Peter Parker’s story was left out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Home trilogy: his job as a photographer for The Daily Bugle. Throughout Tom Holland’s six movies as Spider-Man, there’s no mention of his interest in photography. The Daily Bugle didn’t even appear in the MCU until Spider-Man: Far From Home, and when it did, J.K. Simmons returned as J. Jonah Jameson, portraying the news outlet as similar to Infowars.

Throughout the recent films, J. Jonah Jameson has consistently acted as the villain, first exposing Spider-Man’s identity in Far From Home and then dedicating himself to ruining Spider-Man’s life in No Way Home. A scene that didn’t make the final cut even showed Peter Parker confronting Jameson in his messy apartment at the Daily Bugle.

It’s really disappointing to see how J. Jonah Jameson’s portrayal has changed. I always loved how, in the previous films, he got all those amazing Spider-Man photos from Peter Parker. It felt like a fun, classic dynamic, and it’s a shame that’s not really happening anymore.

Peter Parker’s job as a photographer for the Daily Bugle was a key element throughout all three of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, which started 23 years ago in 2002. This is how he made a living while attending college and balancing his life as a crime-fighter.

Just like the important role of The Daily Planet in James Gunn’s Superman, The Daily Bugle was a key setting in those films, filled with memorable characters such as Robbie Robertson (Bill Nunn), Hoffman (Ted Raimi), and Betty Brant (Elizabeth Banks).

This familiar workspace hadn’t appeared in Spider-Man stories for over a decade, and it was also missing from both of Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man movies. However, there was a small connection: Peter was shown taking pictures of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) at school, suggesting he enjoyed photography.

In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker is seen sending pictures of Spider-Man to J. Jonah Jameson via email, but the Daily Bugle and Jameson himself never actually appear in the movie.

Even though Jameson wasn’t there, his confident and somewhat arrogant personality came through in a short email – a clear, but understated, acknowledgment of Peter’s other work.

As Marvel Studios plans the next Spider-Man movie, they have a great opportunity to explore Peter Parker’s background and tell a compelling story about his life – including his relationships, struggles with loss, and even the everyday challenges of making ends meet while also being a superhero, like balancing fighting villains with taking pictures to earn money.

Bringing Peter’s Photography Back in Spider-Man 4

Okay, so after getting a look at the cast coming together, it’s clear Spider-Man’s about to face a serious challenge in the upcoming film, Brand New Day. We’re talking Marvin Jones III as Tombstone, Jon Bernthal reprising his intense Punisher role, Michael Mando bringing the menace as Scorpion, and a Hulk – Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, thankfully – who seems genuinely revitalized. Honestly, just thinking about Spider-Man going up against that group gives me chills. He’s really going to earn his stripes in this one.

In Spider-Man 4, it would feel natural for Peter to revisit his love of photography, whether as a hobby or a way to earn some money. After being completely cut off from his old life and having to start over as Peter Parker – with everyone having forgotten he was Spider-Man – developing new interests would be a realistic step for the character.

This is the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Peter Parker is truly on his own, lacking the support he’s had before. He’s building his own Spider-Man suits and living in a modest apartment in New York City. We also don’t know what Peter has been up to between the events of No Way Home and Brand New Day, including whether or not he’s attending college.

The problem with Peter Parker becoming a photographer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that the idea of The Daily Bugle as a busy, active newsroom feels old-fashioned for today’s journalism. Hopefully, the filmmakers can find a clever way to update this classic element, which would make this new phase of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man feel more realistic.

Not much is known about the story of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but the movie will feature Zendaya and Jacob Batalon returning to their roles.

Tramell Tillman, Sadie Sink, and Liza Colón-Zayas have also joined the cast of Spider-Man 4, but their roles are currently being kept secret, leaving the film’s plot a mystery.

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2025-11-17 08:36