Who is Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s mystery villain? Five top theories

Going into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, one obvious question is who the villain actually is. The movie’s official synopsis teases a “powerful villain no one can even see,” and trailers show members of the public being mind-controlled by an unseen force. Sadie Sink has been linked to Jean Grey, but the footage and casting hints leave several possibilities on the table.

Jean Grey is the first and most persistent theory. A psychic blast in the latest trailer echoes the animated Phoenix, and her formidable telepathic powers would explain the mind control seen in the marketing. Jean is usually a cornerstone of the X-Men, who have not yet been introduced in the mainline MCU, so featuring her here could help set up what’s to come.

Another candidate is William Metzger, a hardline anti-mutant campaigner well known to veteran X-Men readers. In the comics he pushed ethical limits and even tried to build an anti-mutant weapon before meeting a brutal end at Magneto’s hands.

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