# Naomi Watts reveals hidden MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day > Source: > Published: 2026-08-05 05:41:17+00:00 # Naomi Watts reveals hidden MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day ‘From playing your mom to playing your AI’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Fourteen years after playing [Tom Holland](/topic/tom-holland)’s mother, [Naomi Watts](/topic/naomi-watts) revealed that she secretly joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an uncredited voice role in *Spider-Man**: Brand New Day*. The Oscar-nominated actor shared on Tuesday that she secretly voiced E.V.I.E., Peter Parker’s artificial intelligence assistant in *Brand New Day*, lifting the lid on a cameo that had remained under wraps even as the film stormed to a record-breaking opening weekend. “From playing your mom to playing your AI (100 per cent human made),” Watts wrote on Instagram, also sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from a remote recording session with director Destin Daniel Cretton. “Congrats Tom, Destin, and the whole *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* team on the historic opening weekend!! Immensely proud to even be just a tiny part of this incredible film!” Directed by Cretton, who previously helmed Marvel’s *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*, the film follows Peter four years after the events of *Spider-Man: No Way Home*, living anonymously after Doctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell erases the world’s knowledge of his identity. As Spider-Man, he continues protecting New York while investigating a new threat as his powers begin to evolve in unexpected ways. [Alongside Holland](/arts-entertainment/films/news/spiderman-brand-new-day-odyssey-tom-holland-zendaya-b3026909.html), the film stars Zendaya, [Sadie Sink](/topic/sadie-sink), Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo. Watts’s MCU debut reunites her with Holland 14 years after *The Impossible*, in which she played Maria Bennett, the mother of Holland’s Lucas, as a family fought to survive the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. [Try for free](https://tv.apple.com/gb/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&itsct=independent_tv&ct=offer&at=1000l3akK) ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The drama marked Holland’s feature film debut at 16, while Watts’s portrayal of Maria earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. Three years later, Holland would be cast as Spider-Man in *Captain America: Civil War*, launching one of the defining roles of his career. During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s *Good Hang* podcast, Holland described working with Watts as “an acting masterclass”. “She just was an absolute powerhouse,” Holland said. “She showed such patience and she was so caring and kind. She had a great work ethic. She was so kind and courteous to the crew. For me, starting my career in this business, it could not have been a better blueprint for how to behave and how to work.” *Brand New Day* also reunited Watts with Cretton, who directed her in the 2017 drama *The Glass Castle*, and with co-star Sadie Sink, who appeared alongside her in the film. Since its release on 31 July, [ Brand New Day has quickly become one of the biggest box-office successes in cinema history](/arts-entertainment/films/news/spiderman-brand-new-day-box-office-opening-b3026532.html). After opening to a record-breaking $360m in North America, overtaking *Avengers: Endgame* to secure the biggest domestic opening weekend ever, the film made $1bn worldwide in just six days. With $1.05bn in global ticket sales – $407m domestically and $645.8m internationally – it became the second-fastest film ever to reach the milestone, behind only *Avengers: Endgame*. The fourth standalone Spider-Man film opened to excellent critical reviews. [ The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey gave the film four stars in her review and argued ](/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/spider-man-brand-new-day-review-marvel-tom-holland-b3023444.html)that it was “not only the best of the MCU takes on the character but it’s also flat out the best Spider-Man film since [Sam Raimi’s](/arts-entertainment/music/news/spider-man-tobey-maguire-sam-raimi-b2911999.html)”. *Spider-Man 2*She said [Sink was “excellent”](/arts-entertainment/films/news/spider-man-brand-new-day-sadie-sink-marvel-london-b3007244.html), admitting that [she couldn’t say more about her role “without giving the game away”.](/arts-entertainment/films/news/spider-man-brand-new-day-spoiler-steve-lacy-premiere-b3023469.html) *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* is in cinemas now. ## Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies [Comments](#comments-area)