Marvel President Kevin Feige might have just saved Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a director of his choice. Being a collaboration between Sony and Marvel, Sony wanted Jon Watts for the upcoming Tom Holland movie.
However, Feige refused the deal and instead stated that the film should be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The news was reported by a notable insider @MyTimetoShineHello. Check out the full tweet below:
Tom Rothman, head of Sony, really wanted Jon Watts back for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. When it became clear that it wasn’t going to happen there was a short period when he wanted Venom’s Ruben Fleischer to direct. Kevin Feige rejected the idea and instead courted Destin Daniel… pic.twitter.com/2eapvTrgor— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) November 26, 2025
Well, Jon Watts is indeed known for directing Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home, so it would make sense that Sony wanted to bring him in. However, Ruben Fleischer, directing a Spider-Man movie, would have been another tale entirely.
Ruben Fleischer Became Infamous for His Venom Movies
Back in 2018, when Tom Hardy was announced to portray the role of Eddie Brock in and as Venom, the world was quite excited to see the symbiote getting its own movie.
However, with the release of the first movie, Venom opened to staggeringly disappointing reviews from critics. Although Ruben Fleischer did not return to direct the second and third parts of the franchise, he did become infamous as the guy who gave Venom a bad start.
Key Facts About:VenomDirected By:Ruben FleischerCast:Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz AhmedRelease Date:October 5, 2018IMDb Rating:6.6/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:31%Worldwide Box Office:$856 millionProduction House:Columbia PicturesWhere to Watch:Disney+
Naturally, there would have been a heavy backlash if Sony and Feige had agreed on Fleischer to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Here’s Why Ruben Fleischer Wasn’t the Best Choice for Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credits: Columbia Pictures
Well, it’s not to say that Ruben Fleischer is a bad director, since he is the director of several iconic movies like Zombieland, the third Now You See Me: Now You Don’t movie, and Uncharted.
However, the director does have a certain kind of affinity towards mature humor. With deadpan comedies and adult humor in Zombieland, alongside a more visceral depiction of Venom in his Venom movie, Fleischer might just have more adult humor than what Marvel audiences are looking for.
With Spider-Man being the “friendly neighborhood” vibe, it would certainly be a bad idea for him to get involved in dark humor and mature jokes. Therefore, although Ruben Fleischer has directed some iconic movies, he wouldn’t have been the best bet for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Do you think Ruben Fleischer could have redeemed his Venom days with Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will release on July 31, 2026 (USA).
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