Just days after reports surfaced that Anne Hathaway passed on a villain role in ‘Spider-Man 4,’ the Oscar-winning actress is reportedly circling a major part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming Phase 7.The report comes as the studio prepares to transition into its Mutant Saga following ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ in 2027.
The tweet that built speculations
The report comes after popular scooper ‘MyTimeToShineHello posted a tweet on X. “After rejecting a role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Anne Hathaway is now in talks for a MAJOR role in the MCU’s next saga,” the tweet noted. While the studio has not confirmed any casting, the rumour positions Hathaway for a major role in the franchise’s X-Men-focused future.
Anne Hathaway and Sarah Snook passed on a role in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
According to a YouTube video posted by industry insider Jeff Sneider, casting discussions for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ reportedly involved Anne Hathaway and Sarah Snook early in the film’s development process for a villain role. The filmmakers considered both actors for a female antagonist role, but they ultimately did not join the project. “Those were like legit rumours, and I’d heard that basically Anne Hathaway passed, and… Sarah Snook passed (the roles).”Insider Jeff Sneider further explained that the original concept for ‘Spider-Man 4’ involved “the older female villain,” which had circulated as a rumour prior to casting decisions being finalised.
Did Marvel change the original villain in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Sneider stated that once both actors declined the role, the studio reconsidered its approach to the character. He said, “Once those two passed… Marvel was like, hmm. Should we just beef up Jean’s role a little bit?” indicating a shift in creative direction during development.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ confirmed cast
Now, the film features a mix of returning MCU stars like Tom Holland and Zendaya and new faces, including Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, and Sadie Sink. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is scheduled to be released on July 31, 2026.