If we know anything about Zendaya, it’s that her press looks always MEAN something. So when she kept showing up to red carpets for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, people thought something bad was about to happen to MJ. Well, now that film is officially out and we finally know the truth. So if you’re looking to find out what happens to MJ, we got you covered. But if you haven’t seen the film just yet, this is your final warning to turn around now before you get the whole movie spoiled!
Here’s everything you need to do about MJ’s fate in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Let’s cut to the chase: Does MJ die in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
The short and simple answer is...no! MJ does not die in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. So now you can breathe a sigh of relief, we do have to say that things have certainly changed since we last saw her.
What has happened to MJ since the last Spider-Man film?
There is a bit of a time jump as we discover that a few years have passed before the major parts of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
MJ and Ned have officially graduated from MIT and they move back to NYC to find some jobs. The two besties are living together in the same apartment, so things are still good between them. MJ is dating a mysterious guy, but we actually don’t learn who he is. Will he come back in the future? Who knows!
Anyway, at one point, they reconnect with Peter when he follows Ned to their new place where they’re throwing a housewarming party. However, seeing MJ with the new guy does trigger Peter’s stress which triggers more of his arachnid DNA to go out of control.
Eventually, they reunite again when Jean Grey discovers Peter’s love for MJ and tries to go after her. Peter gets to MJ and takes her to a safe spot where she seemingly starts to piece together that she’s missing memories that seem to be connected to him. The two share a kiss, but it’s actually revealed to be Jean Grey in MJ’s body. Eventually, she leaves and he takes her over to Frank’s for protection.
MJ helps him out with his inhibiter and the two chat a bit before he officially leaves to go take down Jean. Shortly after, MJ encourages Frank to go and help out Peter.
After Peter once again “saves the day,” he returns back to Frank’s hideout to discover the MJ has found his note with the truth about what happened to them. She notes that she doesn’t remember him, does not love him, and that she is a different MJ now due to her lack of memories of him. However, she is unable to make it back home by herself, so she asks him to take her back to her apartment.
There, she encourages Peter to stay (mask on) and hang out with her and Ned. The three seemingly bond like they used to, with MJ drawing a photo of Peter maskless with Ned. While talking to MJ, he discovers that she has no memories from when Jean took over her body, learning that Metzger was lying to him and that he actually put Jean in danger. Jean, in her anger of discovering the truth about her sister’s death, puts everyone under a specific radius under her control, unable to move and feeling her grief.
Eventually, Peter is able to save the day yet again, but he passes out after he is accidentally shot by Frank. In the hospital where he’s recovering, we see the photo that MJ’s drawing on his bedside, showing that she came to visit him while he was unconscious.
So, what does this mean for MJ in the future?
Peter does reconnect with Ned at the end and it seems like there might be a spark for the trio to hang out again, not just as him as Spider-Man, but also him as Peter Parker. Whether MJ will get her memories again is the big question! Right now, it seems like it might take a lot to undo Dr. Strange’s spell. But, as we already know from the MCU’s past, anything can happen!
Wait, so what was all the black in Zendaya’s press looks for Spider-Man: Brand New Day?!
Oh, so when Peter’s arachnid DNA starts to take over, his eyes go all black. He can still see, but it shows how the DNA is overpowering his human DNA. And, well, yeah. That’s literally it.
A lot of fans thought it might be due to the introduction of the Symbiote, which brings Venom to life. But, nope, looks like that’s not being introduced to the MCU...yet...
