Hey, he’s swingin’ here! Spider-Man: Brand New Day is hitting movie theatres this week, and we’re here to celebrate.
New York City is home to Spider-Man, Broadway, and plenty of Marvel stars who have crossed paths with both. Loved by New Yorkers and tourists alike, the web-slinger and his theatrics have been spotted everywhere, including the Broadway stage. From Peter Parker himself to the friends (and enemies) he’s made along the way, here are 15 actors who’ve swung from the Marvel universe to the stage.
Tom Holland
Holland plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man, first appearing in the MCU in Captain America: Civil War (2016) before starring in the Spider-Man films Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019), and No Way Home (2021). He made his West End debut in Billy Elliot, initially playing Michael before taking over the title role of Billy, which he performed from 2008 to 2010. He made his return to the West End stage in 2024, playing one half of the titular duo in Romeo and Juliet.
Andrew Garfield
Garfield plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), and later reprising the role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). His Broadway credits include Death of a Salesman (2012) and Angels in America (2018), for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play; the production originated at London’s National Theatre in 2017 before transferring to Broadway.
Emma Stone
Stone plays Gwen Stacy, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and returning in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). She made her Broadway debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, performing from November 11, 2014, through February 15, 2015.
Jake Gyllenhaal
Gyllenhaal plays Quentin Beck/Mysterio, first appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). His Broadway credits include Constellations (2015), Sunday in the Park with George (2017), Sea Wall/A Life (2019), for which he received a Tony nomination, and Othello (2025).
Alfred Molina
Molina plays Dr. Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus, first appearing in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and reprising the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). His Broadway credits include Art (1998–99), Fiddler on the Roof (2004–06), Red (2010), and Uncle Vanya (2024).
Rosemary Harris
Harris plays May Parker/Aunt May, first appearing in Spider-Man (2002) and reprising the role in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). Her extensive Broadway career began with The Climate of Eden in 1952 and includes The Lion in Winter (1966), The Royal Family (1975–76), Lost in Yonkers (1991–93), The Road to Mecca (2012), and My Fair Lady (2018–19), among many others.
Sally Field
Field plays May Parker, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and returning in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). Her Broadway credits include The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002) and The Glass Menagerie (2017), earning a Tony nomination for the latter.
Marisa Tomei
Tomei plays May Parker, first appearing in the MCU in Captain America: Civil War (2016) before appearing in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Her Broadway credits include Wait Until Dark (1998), Salome (2003), Top Girls (2008), The Realistic Joneses (2014), and The Rose Tattoo (2019).
Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson plays Nick Fury, first appearing in the MCU in the post-credits scene of Iron Man (2008) and subsequently becoming one of the franchise’s recurring characters. However, his first and only appearance in the Spider-Man films was 2019’s Far From Home. He is not expected to appear in Brand New Day. His Broadway credits include The Piano Lesson (1990 and 2022), The Mountaintop (2011), and Purlie Victorious (2023) as a producer.
J.K. Simmons
Simmons plays J. Jonah Jameson, first appearing in Spider-Man (2002) and reprising the role in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spider-Man 3 (2007), and the MCU’s Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), among other appearances. His Broadway credits include A Few Good Men (1989–91), A Change in the Heir (1990), Peter Pan (1991–92), Guys and Dolls (1992–95), and Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993–94).
Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo plays Bruce Banner/Hulk, first appearing in The Avengers (2012) and subsequently appearing throughout the MCU. Brand New Day will mark his first appearance in the Spider-Man films. He made his Broadway debut in Awake and Sing! (2006) and later starred in The Price (2017).
Sadie Sink
Sink is set to play a new, unannounced role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), marking her entry into the Spider-Man/MCU film franchise. Her Broadway credits include Annie (2012–14), The Audience (2015), and John Proctor Is the Villain (2025), for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.
Jon Bernthal
Bernthal plays Frank Castle/The Punisher, first appearing in Marvel’s Daredevil in 2015 before starring in The Punisher and Daredevil: Born Again. He will make his first appearance in the Spider-Man films in 2026’s Brand New Day. He just made his Broadway debut this past season as Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon, which ran from March 30 through July 12, 2026.
Robert Downey Jr.
While Downey has been seen across the MCU since the first Iron Man film in 2008, he made his first appearance in a Spider-Man film in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. He made his Broadway debut as Jacob McNeal in Lincoln Center Theater’s McNeal, which ran from September 30 through November 24, 2024.
Reeve Carney
While not technically an actor of the MCU, Carney played Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which began performances in 2010 and officially opened in 2011. The musical is separate from the Spider-Man film and MCU continuities. He later originated the role of Orpheus in Broadway’s Hadestown (2019) and just wrapped up his run as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.
