Spider-Man: Brand New Day might introduce a major plot point for the X-Men movie.
Marvel will be reintroducing the X-Men in an upcoming film from Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier, after the Fox-era squad returns in Avengers: Doomsday. Heavy speculation has linked Sadie Sink's mystery Spider-Man: Brand New Day character with Jean Grey – but there's actually another plot point in the film that may well be setting up the mutant movie.
Below, we've explained exactly how Spider-Man: Brand New Day might be setting up the X-Men movie, which means there are heavy spoilers ahead. Turn back now if you're not up to date! For even more, check out our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review.
How Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets up the X-Men movie explained
During Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker becomes overwhelmed by his spider DNA, a consequence of his unresolved trauma. He seeks help from Bruce Banner, who wears an inhibitor on his wrist that stops him from transforming into the Hulk. The inhibitor works by controlling the gamma radiation in his blood, and Peter thinks he can make a similar device to suppress his own arachnid DNA.
However, Peter has some ideas for tweaks that Banner – and later, MJ – warn him about. The version Peter works on, a universal inhibitor, could suppress any type of superpower on any powered person. Peter uses it on Jean Grey – who is indeed the character Sadie Sink is playing – to shut off her powers. But Jean is strong enough to overwhelm the device, so the chip breaks and falls to the ground near the end of the film.
But it's also revealed that Damage Control has contingency plans to take down Spider-Man, with a weapon that neutralizes his webs. Considering Peter has developed technology that could essentially turn off anyone's powers, it seems likely Damage Control would be interested in manufacturing more – which feels like crucial setup for the X-Men movie.
X-Men are mutants with genes that give them their powers, and a universal inhibitor that works via DNA seems tailor-made to target them specifically. Peter might have had the best intentions making his device, but there's every chance it could be used for anti-mutant means going forward.
Anti-mutant prejudice is a very common theme across the X-Men movies and comics, and, if the MCU continues down that road, our best guess is that Peter's inhibitor might be used to control the mutant population. While Damage Control is exposed by Peter – with Yelena Belova hard at work decoding their redacted files – another organization, or the escaped Bill Metzger, might pick up where they left off in the future. And, it does seem the heroes left the broken inhibitor behind…
Jean Grey is able to overwhelm her inhibitor with her powers, and Peter realizes he's better off without his own chip and takes it off in the final fight. So, while Brand New Day lays the groundwork for a serious threat to the X-Men, it also spells out how to defeat it. All hope is not lost.
For even more on the MCU, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.
