Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become one of the most talked-about releases of 2026, and part of its success has an explanation few expected. Tom Holland has revealed that one of the most important emotional ideas in the film did not come from Marvel comics, but from an animated film starring the Justice League's arch-nemesis: The Lego Batman Movie, released in 2017.
The detail is particularly relevant now because Holland has taken a much more active creative role in this installment than in his previous appearances as Peter Parker, working side-by-side with director Destin Daniel Cretton to define the tone of the story following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The idea Tom Holland found in a DC Comics film
In recent statements, Holland explained that what fascinated him about The Lego Batman Movie was the contrast between the public perception of a superhero and his private reality. In the film directed by Chris McKay, Gotham imagines that Batman returns every night to parties full of celebrities, when in reality he returns alone to an empty Batcave.
According to the actor, that same contradiction could be applied perfectly to Peter Parker. While Spider-Man becomes an increasingly admired figure in New York, the man under the mask carries a loneliness that few suspect.
Holland summarized it by pointing out that the difference between the life people think Spider-Man leads and the one Peter Parker actually lives was precisely what drew him to the animated film, which cuts from fantasies about Batman's social life to show him completely alone at home.
Peter Parker and Batman: a loneliness with the same origin
The parallel makes more sense when considering Peter's starting point in Brand New Day. After the events of No Way Home, the entire world forgot who Peter Parker is, including people as close to him as MJ and Ned.
This creates a situation similar to that of the LEGO Batman: a publicly acclaimed hero who, upon taking off the suit, returns to an existence marked by the absence of the bonds that truly gave his life meaning.
A story of loneliness hidden under humor
Although The Lego Batman Movie is remembered for its constant barrage of jokes and its parade of DC villains turned into plastic pieces, beneath that comedic facade lies a reflection on isolation. Batman saves Gotham, receives recognition from the entire city, and yet, he returns every night to a Batcave where only the memories of his parents keep him company.
In the plot, Alfred tries to make him understand that his true conflict is not the villains he faces, but the fear of forming a family again and losing it. The film develops that idea when Bruce Wayne adopts, almost without realizing it, Dick Grayson, eventually forming a team with Robin, Alfred, and Barbara Gordon.
Tom Holland proposed the reference directly to the director
The most striking part of the creative process is that Holland did not just detect the similarity between the two characters: he was the one who personally sent the reference of The Lego Batman Movie to Destin Daniel Cretton, convinced that it could serve as an emotional foundation for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The actor explained that he proposed to the director that they replicate that same narrative structure, with the intention of adding emotional layers to the story and generating in the audience a desire for Peter Parker to make decisions that allow him to regain happiness, peace, and love in his personal life.
For Holland, that is precisely the big question that runs through the film: it is not just about what threat Spider-Man must face, but whether Peter will be able to take the necessary steps to rebuild his life after losing practically everything.
A conflict more human than superheroic
This approach distances Brand New Day from a story focused solely on action or a new villain. Peter Parker has already defeated large-scale threats, fought alongside the Avengers, and survived a multiversal crisis. The true challenge of this new stage is emotional: getting him to regain a meaningful life outside of the suit.
The fact that part of that idea came from a plastic Batman eating dinner alone in a gigantic mansion shows that, sometimes, the inspiration for the most human superhero stories appears in the most unexpected places.
Frequently Asked Questions
What film inspired Tom Holland for Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Tom Holland was inspired by The Lego Batman Movie (2017), especially by the contrast between Batman's public life and his private loneliness.
Who directed The Lego Batman Movie?
The animated film was directed by Chris McKay and was released in 2017.
Why does Peter Parker live in isolation in Brand New Day?
Because after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the world forgot who Peter Parker is, including close people like MJ and Ned.
Did Tom Holland participate in the film’s creative process?
Yes, the actor had an active creative role and personally brought the reference of The Lego Batman Movie to director Destin Daniel Cretton.
Who is directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
