For Tom Holland, Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, based on the famous Marvel Comics web-slinging character, tells a different kind of superhero story – one centred on vulnerability. "It's definitely more grounded; it's grittier, it's more emotional, but that doesn't mean we sacrifice the humour and the fun," Holland added. Directed by Destin Yori Daniel Cretton, the film takes place a few years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was directed by Jon Watts. Among those impacted are Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, Peter's girlfriend, played by Holland's real-life wife, Zendaya, and his best friend Ned, played by Jacob Batalon. Both characters have no memory of the time they spent with Peter.