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[This story contains major spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.]
With their concluding dap in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jacob Batalon and Tom Holland have joined Predator’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers in the pantheon of cinema’s most iconic handshakes.
Batalon’s Ned Leeds and Holland’s Peter Parker might be at the very top of the list when one considers the narrative and emotional significance behind the trademark gesture they’ve been giving each other since their best friendship debuted in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. However, the exact meaning behind this particular exchange has already been hotly debated by the audience that helped the fourth Holland-led Spidey tale surpass Avengers: Endgame for the biggest domestic opening weekend of all time at $360 million. The Destin Daniel Cretton-directed pic also accumulated a worldwide opening of $941 million, second only to Endgame, which again featured Ned and Peter dapping upon their return from the blip.
After Peter had Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) wipe everyone’s memory of him at the end of Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: No Way Home, moviegoers largely assumed the spell that was meant to protect Earth-199999 — including Ned and Peter’s girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya) — would be broken somehow, someway. But that’s not exactly what happened despite the MCU debut of the telepathic X-Men character, Jean Grey (Sadie Sink). Ned and Peter interact throughout the film as Peter’s faux neighbor persona, “Maynard,” as well as Spider-Man. But it’s not until the final scene at a bodega that Peter finally reintroduces himself to Ned as Peter before shaking hands.
As they clasp hands and break into fist bumps and finger guns, Ned seemingly recognizes his best friend for the first time in four years, hence his enlightened response of “Peter?” This is likely the reading that most moviegoers walked away with considering it’s the most satisfying version of events. If Ned doesn’t actually have a fragment of his memory back, then the scene borders on what is regarded by film and TV writers as “schmuck bait.”
Nevertheless, some fans have instead argued that Ned’s muscle memory is all that remains intact, and his utterance of the name Peter is just him connecting the dots to MJ’s earlier reveal that Spider-Man’s name is Peter. Others have argued that Jean’s psionic freeze that affected a large chunk of New York City’s population helped begin the restoration of Ned and MJ’s memories since they were also trapped in that energy field. But the latter theory makes less sense when you consider that Jean already possessed MJ in the middle of the movie, and it still didn’t reignite her memories when she later found Peter’s confessional letter that he inexplicably left out in the open at Frank Castle’s (Jon Bernthal) domicile.
In Batalon’s case, he doesn’t have the black-and-white answer, but he seems to lean toward the idea that some progress has been made toward reviving Ned’s memories of Peter.
“It seems a little open-ended. What if it’s just muscle memory? What if he just remembers that handshake but nothing else about Peter? What if he just repeats ‘Peter’ because that’s what Peter says his name is in that moment? I don’t know,” Batalon tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I feel like it’s really up to interpretation for everyone. There could be a slight glint or little glimmer [of recognition], if you will.”
The animated post-credit scene also features Batalon’s modulated voice as part of Ned’s Spider-Man tracking app, Spidey Tracker. The program implies that Spider-Man, or a Spider-Man, is off-world, hinting at the Wall Crawler’s presence in an upcoming Avengers movie that is likely to be Secret Wars. Unfortunately, Batalon has no added insight as to what his character’s tech is alluding to here. “You think me, of all people, knows top-brass-level information? Come on,” Batalon says mid-laugh.
During early press for Brand New Day, Holland told a story on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast involving an ineffective scene that shut down production for the day in order for Cretton and his on-set writer, Justin Kuritzkes, to reconceive. Batalon confirms that it was the scene that is now represented as Ned and a masked Spider-Man building Star Wars Legos and quoting The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, as MJ draws Ned and an unmasked Spider-Man doing exactly that.
“We shot [a version of that scene] the day before, and it didn’t really feel as organic and as real as we were used to. So that was a day where we all stopped filming, and then we sat down to put a bunch of ideas together for the scene,” Batalon shares. “Then Destin and his writing partner [Justin Kuritzkes] were able to rewrite and fix that scene. They made it what it is in the movie.”
Below, during a spoiler conversation with THR, Batalon also discusses Jean’s codename in the script, as well as portraying a more grown-up Ned for the first time.
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When we last spoke in May 2024, you were filming Novocaine at the time, and you said you hadn’t really heard anything concrete about what would become Spider-Man: Brand New Day. When did things start to get rolling from your perspective?
They actually started checking availability shortly after we had that talk. But then nothing really happened until early 2025. Luckily, we were able to go by then.
Tom Holland earned his way into the writers room for Brand New Way. Did he ever ask for, or did you ever offer, your two cents as far as what you’d like to see for Ned in this one?
Not particularly. In general, Destin was always open and willing to collaborate with myself and Zendaya about our characters. So the really beautiful part is that Tom not only has his fingerprints over the entire movie, but we were also given more liberty with our parts.
I noticed the Naruto poster in Ned’s room, and I initially assumed that was your suggestion because you once told me how you’re a big fan of that manga series. But then I remembered that Destin Daniel Cretton started developing a live-action movie back in 2024.
Yeah, he’s definitely shouting himself out there, and we absolutely talked about his Naruto movie. So it was a really cool nod to himself. He deserves it.
Like the last movie, you guys had some big secrets to keep on Brand New Day. When did you first hear the name Jean Grey?
I don’t even know how to answer that. When I first read the script, that was pretty much when I first came across that name.
Did they play any games with your scripts?
Just to be safe, they changed names on purpose. Sometimes, people just don’t know how to keep quiet.
So instead of Jean Grey, it was something like Jen Green?
(Laughs.) It was more like “Denim Red.”
The first glimpse of Ned is through a series of Instagram-like stories that summarize Ned and MJ’s four years at MIT. Peter Parker can’t help but keep tabs on his best friends who no longer remember him. Judging by Ned’s goatee in one of them, did you and Zendaya enjoy putting those together?
Yeah, and that goatee was definitely a funny suggestion that they put in there. It felt uncomfortable, but it was definitely worth the joke. I’m actually happy that I can’t grow facial hair because that’s, unfortunately, what I’d look like.
From there, your first real scene is when Peter spots Ned buying mini beer kegs and an energy drink he’s addicted to called SharkFire. There are noticeable differences in Ned in that he has a fringe cut and a more grown-up wardrobe, but he also just seems more confident. Were you pretty involved in creating this makeover of sorts?
I can’t really take credit for that. It was the costume department who really wanted to age us up in the proper way without making it seem too forced. The more grown-up costume, in a way, gave me space to explore that in my own performance as well. It helped me feel like he’s actually like an adult now, as opposed to the young high school kid that we’re so used to seeing. So the costume really helped me make him seem more grown-up now.
After playing best friends since 2016, how strange was it for you to ignore Tom in a couple scenes?
It was actually easier to ignore him because he’s often pulling so many shenanigans. It was a really cool little quirk that we got to add to the acting exercise. We had the same emotions and the same fun that we’ve always had, but it was just missing that one layer that Peter Parker adds.
When you say shenanigans, is he a prankster on set?
He just tries to make you laugh in the same way I try to make other people laugh. But he’s just not as funny as me. That’s the thing.
Peter follows Ned to his and MJ’s housewarming party, and that’s when all three of you interact with Peter’s newest alter ego named Maynard. Was it equally odd to play this new dynamic between the three of you?
Yeah, it definitely felt a little different. But as actors, you relish and enjoy the fact that you get to explore different parts of your characters that haven’t necessarily been seen before. Understanding that new dynamic and actually building in that missing layer only adds to the heartbreak of Peter Parker, because they are clearly having a great time without him in their lives.
This would be pretty implausible for so many reasons, but no one ever went as far as to say, “Hey, what if we ignored Tom during filming hours? What if we kept our distance for the sake of the story?”
(Laughs.) No, we didn’t have to do anything like that. If you’re doing Method like that, then you’re just a dick.
Eman Esfandi is introduced as MJ’s current boyfriend, and Ned seems to like him a lot, especially since he brings him gifts. I have to imagine Eman felt a little awkward that day considering the history between the three of you. Did everybody try to put him at ease?
First and foremost, everyone is a professional, and we all know it’s just a movie. And what’s really great about Destin as a person and a leader is that he makes everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. He wants everyone to be a part of the family and the community. So Eman was really great for us, and it was a big task to step in as the replacement boyfriend. That just speaks to how invested we’ve all been in these characters’ relationships the last decade. People genuinely sense the awkward tension when they see MJ’s new boyfriend because they know it feels wrong.
Is Eman’s character who Ned referred to as Nate Dawg/Dogg/Dog? He said that he pulled “all-nighters with MJ and Nate Dawg.”
(Laughs.) I actually don’t even know what Eman’s character’s name is in the movie. He’s just “MJ’s boyfriend.” So he could be Nate Dawg.
Or it’s just a ‘90s rap reference.
(Laugh.) Exactly. That’s funny.
One of the loveliest moments is when Ned and Spider-Man build Star Wars Legos and quote The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, all while MJ draws them. What’s the story behind that scene?
That was one of the scenes where some work had to be done to really polish it. We shot [a version of that scene] the day before, and it didn’t really feel as organic and as real as we were used to. So that was a day where we all stopped filming, and then we sat down to put a bunch of ideas together for the scene. Then Destin and his writing partner [Justin Kuritzkes] were able to rewrite and fix that scene. They made it what it is in the movie.
Tom told that story during early press for the movie, but he couldn’t specify which scene it was at the time. So it’s nice to hear confirmation that it was the Lord of the Rings scene.
Yeah.
Ned and MJ participate in Spider-Man’s Zoom call with Yelena Belova/Black Widow. Did Florence Pugh perform her side that day? Or did a crew member stand in for her?
We just acted against a camera monitor, but it would’ve been fun if she had been there. As everyone knows with these types of movies, people are busy.
The film ends on a beautiful note as Peter approaches Ned at the same bodega as the beginning of the film. Peter finally introduces himself with his real name, and when they go to shake hands, their muscle memory leads them back into their secret handshake/dap that they have done so many times, seemingly triggering at least some memory of Peter. What was your first reaction to the fact that you’d be the first one to remember Peter to some degree?
First and foremost, does Ned actually remember him, though? It seems a little open-ended. What if it’s just muscle memory? What if he just remembers that handshake but nothing else about Peter? What if he just repeats Peter because that’s what Peter says his name is in that moment? I don’t know. I feel like it’s really up to interpretation for everyone. For me, I think it’s a really cool little nod, so hopefully things happen from there.
The way that Ned said “Peter?” makes me think that he’s taken the first step toward remembering everything. He may not have it all back, but he’s got a fragment of recognition.
Yeah, there could be a slight glint or little glimmer, if you will.
I walked into this movie thinking that Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) was going to reignite both Ned and MJ’s memories given the choice to include a character with telepathic powers, but that’s not what happened. MJ still doesn’t remember Peter despite reading his carelessly misplaced letter. Were you also surprised that MJ ended this movie without her memories restored?
That adds to the lore, though. When the easiest path to success doesn’t happen, that’s a good thing for storytelling. If everything happened in an easy way, it would not be as conflicting, emotionally damaging and interesting. So I honestly think it’s a great choice.
When you first opened up the script, did you assume you both were getting your memories back by the end?
To be perfectly honest, as a person who’s been working under Sony and Marvel for a long time, I’ve learned to temper expectations a lot. (Laughs.) I’m just grateful that people wanted me back and that the fans wanted this to happen — and that it was all for the right reasons. So whatever story and script that we’re given, I’m just happy to be a part of it.
The Spidey Tracker post-credit scene indicates that Spider-Man, or a Spider-Man, has returned to space. I took that to mean he’s back with the Avengers in some capacity, be it Doomsday or Secret Wars. Do you know anything more about this?
(Laughs.) Come on! Who are you talking to here? You think I know that stuff!?
I figured the inventor of the Spidey Tracker would know how his tech is being used.
(Laughs.) You think me, of all people, knows top-brass-level information? Come on.
Maybe you overheard Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal talking in the break room at work.
I wish! I wish I was in the same room with them. I’m just not the right person to ask. So I can’t plausibly confirm or deny anything.
Ned may not remember Peter, but he does remember Spider-Man saving him throughout high school. Thus, he created that Spider-Man tracking app because he’s committed to discovering his secret identity for himself. His two top suspects at the start are Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori) and Mr. Harrington (Martin Starr). I know Tony went to the premiere, so did he know it was coming?
I don’t think so. I actually invited Tony to the premiere in L.A., and he definitely laughed his ass off when that came up. Those two were the funniest options because they’re just so completely the opposite of who we think Spider-Man could be. It’s hilarious how off the scent Ned was.
Lastly, for a movie that’s largely about memory, what random memory will stick with you for years to come?
Personally, I’d say putting the wig on again. It was a new wig that they styled very nicely and very differently than my old one. It was just really cool to genuinely feel like a grown-up Ned.
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in movie theaters everywhere.
English (US) ·