Marvel’s latest casting announcement for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has fueled fan speculation that the MCU could be moving closer to introducing Miles Morales.
Liza Colón-Zayas Joins the Cast in Mystery Role
According to Cosmic Book News, actress Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear, Titans) has been cast in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, though the exact nature of her role remains unconfirmed. While Marvel has not revealed any specifics, some fans are speculating that Colón-Zayas could be playing Rio Morales, the mother of Miles Morales.
Liza Colon-Zayas accepting an Emmy for her role in The Bear – YouTube, Television Academy
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Colón-Zayas, who is of Puerto Rican descent and from the Bronx, shares similarities with the character of Rio Morales, who hails from Puerto Rico in the comics. This has led some to believe that the casting is an indication that Miles Morales could be introduced to the MCU sooner rather than later.
While some fans have suggested that Colón-Zayas could be playing a new version of Aunt May for Peter Parker, that theory seems less likely. The death of Aunt May in No Way Home is still fresh in the minds of MCU viewers, and recasting her so soon would be an unusual move. Furthermore, Colón-Zayas’ background feels more aligned with a character like Rio Morales rather than an additional maternal figure for Peter.
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Marvel Studios
If Marvel simply needed to introduce another mentor-like character for Peter, there are other ways to achieve that without casting someone so directly linked to Miles Morales’ storyline.
Other Miles Morales Hints in the MCU
While the link between Colón-Zayas and Rio Morales is speculative, there is an interesting potential connection to the larger MCU story. In No Way Home, Aunt May worked at the FEAST center, a nonprofit that appears in the comics and the Spider-Man PS4 game. In those stories, FEAST is closely tied to Miles’ journey, as his mother works in healthcare there.
Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse – YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment
If Colón-Zayas’ character is involved with FEAST after Aunt May’s death, it could be a deliberate setup for introducing Miles Morales down the line, especially since the organization plays a central role in his narrative. While this connection is still purely speculative, it’s a detail worth noting in the context of Marvel’s ongoing web of stories.
Sadie Sink and the Multiverse Possibility
There has also been significant speculation surrounding Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, who has been cast in Spider-Man 4 alongside Tom Holland. While the specifics of her role also remain a mystery, some fans have connected her to potential future Spider-Man lore, with some suggesting she could be involved in a multiverse storyline.
Sadie Sink at a photo shoot – YouTube, COVETEUR
Given the nature of the multiverse and the potential for introducing new characters, this theory isn’t entirely out of the question. Sink’s casting might also indicate that Spider-Man 4 will delve deeper into multiverse elements, possibly laying the groundwork for a Miles Morales storyline.
While Sadie Sink has dismissed rumors of her portraying Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise, her confirmed role in Spider-Man 4 only strengthens the theory that the multiverse is here to stay in the MCU. This in turn would suggest that her currently unnamed character, if not directly tied to Peter Parker, could be connected to Miles Morales.
What’s Next for Spider-Man?
At this stage, it’s still unclear how Marvel plans to move forward with Spider-Man’s story in the MCU. Whether Colón-Zayas’ character is Rio Morales or another figure entirely, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to introduce new faces and potentially explore new directions for Peter Parker.
A screenshot from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023), Insomniac Games
As Tom Holland’s future in the role remains uncertain, it’s possible that Marvel is trying to lay the foundation for a new generation of Spider-themed characters in the MCU. Fans will have to wait until Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters for answers.
Do you think Miles Morales is on his way to the MCU? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Peter Parker is Spider-Man and Miles Morales is Miles Morales. Not interested in anything featuring the latter.
Miles is popular so it makes sense
Might as well. They made “the marvels”. They made “ironsista’”. The corpse has already done been desecrated.
Iron Sista actually makes a better name than Ironheart.
DEI fatigue is real.
I’m confused how this is dei when she’s Puerto Rican and his mom is Puerto Rican in the comics? Who was supposed to be cast as Rio then?
Ugh. Miles has the Spider-Verse movies. He doesn’t need to be shoehorned into the MCU.
Not that it matters that much considering the mess that the MCU has become.
Could be fun and good to see a second Spider-Man without the need for the multiverse