Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel fans have gotten used to rumors, but every once in a while, one pops up that instantly sends the internet into full panic mode.
That’s exactly what’s happening now with Spider-Man 4.
A new report from a well-known MCU scooper is claiming that a familiar Star Wars actor could be joining the next Spider-Man movie—and not as some fun side character or harmless supporting role. Instead, fans believe this casting could signal the arrival of one of the most hated characters from recent Spider-Man comics.
And if Marvel really is planning to bring this controversial figure into the MCU, it could create one of the most frustrating relationship twists Spider-Man fans have ever had to sit through.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Still Feels Like Marvel’s Most Important Hero
At this point, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man isn’t just another MCU character. He’s one of the franchise’s biggest anchors.
His version of Peter Parker has been built on emotional storytelling as much as action. Fans have watched him go from a nervous kid trying to impress Tony Stark to someone who has had to make real sacrifices that have permanently changed his life.
That’s why every update about the next Spider-Man movie feels like a major deal. Holland’s Spider-Man movies don’t just introduce villains—they usually reshape his entire world.
And with the MCU entering a new era, Spider-Man 4 is expected to be one of the most important stepping stones.
Where No Way Home Left Peter Parker Completely Alone
The ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) didn’t feel like a victory. It felt like Peter Parker’s life had collapsed entirely.
Peter lost Aunt May, which was devastating enough on its own. But the bigger blow came when Doctor Strange’s spell erased Peter from everyone’s memory. MJ and Ned—his closest friends—no longer knew who he was.
Peter didn’t just lose his relationship with MJ. He lost the entire life he had built.
And even after all that, he still stayed Spider-Man. He kept fighting crime, even though nobody knew his name and nobody was waiting for him at the end of the day.
That ending set up a much darker and lonelier version of Peter Parker than fans were used to seeing in the MCU.
Brand New Day Will Jump Four Years Ahead Into a New Chapter
Marvel’s next Spider-Man movie is expected to be titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day and is currently slated for release on July 31, 2026.
The film is rumored to feature a four-year time jump after No Way Home (2021), meaning Peter Parker will have spent years living quietly and anonymously. Instead of being the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man with a support system, he’ll reportedly be navigating a criminal mystery while dealing with the fallout of his past.
Several villains have already been tied to the project.
Scorpion, played by Michael Mando, is reportedly confirmed. Tombstone is also expected to appear, with Marvin “Krondon” Jones III attached to the role. Boomerang is another villain rumored to be in the film, and there’s speculation he could potentially be played by Tom Holland’s brother, Harry Holland.
Other villains continue to be speculated online, including Chameleon, Tarantula, Viper, and Harry Osborn, though those names have not been officially confirmed.
Star Wars Star Joins Spider-Man 4
Here’s where the backlash really starts.
According to a rumor posted by scooper Daniel Richtman, Ahsoka (2023) actor Eman Esfandi has reportedly been cast in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The report claims he will play a new boyfriend for Zendaya’s MJ.
Naturally, fans immediately began trying to figure out who this mystery character could be. And almost instantly, one name started spreading everywhere: Paul Rabin.
For Spider-Man comic readers, Paul isn’t just some random side character. He’s widely considered one of the most disliked additions to The Amazing Spider-Man in recent memory.
Paul was introduced during Zeb Wells’ run on the comics starting in April 2022. He appeared as MJ’s new boyfriend while she and Peter Parker were separated. Instead of being written as a compelling character, many fans saw him as an uninteresting obstacle whose primary purpose was to keep Peter and MJ apart.
That backlash grew fast, and Paul became infamous online as one of the most frustrating Spider-Man story choices in years.
So the idea of Marvel bringing him into the MCU, especially right after Peter lost everything in No Way Home (2021), is making many fans furious.
Why the Theory Actually Makes Sense to Some Fans
What’s making this rumor stick is that it isn’t completely random.
In Marvel Comics, Paul is portrayed as a student with a background in complex scientific research. That detail could easily connect to the MCU timeline, since MJ and Ned were headed to MIT at the end of No Way Home (2021).
If MJ has built a new life at college, it would make sense for her to meet someone new there. And if Peter is still living in isolation, it would also make sense that he isn’t part of her world anymore.
Fans have also pointed out that Esfandi resembles the comic version of Paul, especially in his facial hair. However, Richtman has reportedly claimed that Esfandi will not have a beard in the movie, leading others to suggest he could be playing a completely different character.
As of now, it remains speculation. Esfandi could be Paul, another existing Marvel character, or even an original character created for the MCU.
But the damage is already done—fans are already reacting as if Paul is officially on the way.
What This Could Mean for MJ, Peter, and the MCU
If MJ really does have a new boyfriend in Brand New Day, it would add a harsh new layer to Peter Parker’s story.
MJ doesn’t remember Peter. Ned doesn’t remember Peter. So the big question becomes: what brings them back into his life?
It’s easy to imagine Peter quietly keeping tabs on his old friends from a distance. It’s also possible that whatever criminal mystery Peter is investigating pulls MJ and Ned into danger again, forcing Spider-Man back into their orbit.
Peter’s New Love Interest?
Despite earlier rumors that Sadie Sink might be playing a new love interest for Peter, the current speculation makes it seem less likely. If MJ has moved on, Peter probably hasn’t, which could make the emotional tension even heavier.
Even if Esfandi is playing Paul, fans shouldn’t expect Marvel Studios to adapt his complicated comic storyline directly. Marvel often borrows characters and concepts while changing the details to fit the MCU.
Still, if this is truly the direction Marvel is going, it’s not hard to see why fans are worried. Paul Rabin represents one of the most disliked modern Spider-Man story decisions, and putting him into the MCU could immediately create tension with audiences.
At the same time, Marvel may be setting up a short-term obstacle. Some fans believe Doctor Strange’s spell will eventually be undone, restoring Peter’s connection to MJ and Ned. And with the MCU heading toward its massive reset after Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), Marvel may already be planning how to bring Peter’s old life back in a bigger way.
Where This Leaves Spider-Man
Right now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is already shaping up to be one of the most emotionally complicated Spider-Man movies Marvel has ever made.
Peter Parker is still living with grief, isolation, and the consequences of his sacrifice in No Way Home (2021). If the rumors are true and Eman Esfandi has been cast as MJ’s new boyfriend—possibly even as the hated Paul Rabin—Marvel may be stepping into a storyline that comic readers have been dreading for years.
Whether this turns into a major plotline or just a temporary roadblock, one thing is clear: Spider-Man fans are already bracing themselves for another painful chapter in Peter Parker’s life.