* Years after “No Way Home”, Peter faces isolation after Doctor Strange’s memory-erasing spell

* Director Destin Daniel Cretton urges fans not to overanalyze what surprises will come to theaters

* “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” hits theaters July 31.

by Rollo Ross and Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For Tom Holland, Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” based on the famed Marvel Comics web-slinging character, tells a different kind of superhero story — one focused on vulnerability.

“The film kind of offers a cautionary tale about living a lonely life, the importance of community and how sometimes the bravest thing in life is to ask for help,” the “Odyssey” actor told Reuters in New York.

Holland said, “It’s definitely more grounded; it’s serious, it’s more emotional, but that doesn’t mean we sacrifice the humor and the entertainment.” Directed by Destin Yori Daniel Cretton, the film takes place a few years after the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, which was directed by Jon Watts.

In the new installment, Peter Parker is grappling with the consequences of a spell cast by fellow superhero Doctor Strange, which has caused everyone to forget both his existence and his identity as Spider-Man.

Those affected include Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson, Peter’s girlfriend, Holland’s real-life wife, Zendaya, and his best friend Ned, played by Jacob Batalon. Both characters have no memory of their time with Peter.

As Spider-Man heads toward his new reality, he finds an unexpected ally in the vigilante The Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, a crossover of the Marvel series “Daredevil” as well as Netflix’s “The Punisher.”

Despite a rough start, the two characters eventually form a bond.

Bernthal said, “I think it’s always interesting when you have two characters who are trying to overcome everything. It’s the opposite of being a human being, and sometimes it just takes over, and suddenly you find yourself caring about someone you swore you’d never do.”

The Punisher is one of several Marvel characters to appear in the film. Others include assassin Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh, and Bruce Banner/The Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo.

Despite widespread fan theories, one mystery remains unsolved: the identity of the character portrayed by “Stranger Things” actor Sadie Sink. Sink said it was easy to keep the secret until they had to start promoting the film.

“Now that I have to talk about it all day, it’s a little harder than I thought,” he said.

Cretton, who directed “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and was an executive producer on Marvel’s “Wonder Man,” said he hopes audiences will still be surprised by the film’s unexpected moments.

He said, “Trying to figure out the puzzle beforehand is fun and exciting and creates anticipation. But I hope people don’t mind too much, because the experience of seeing it on a big screen in a room full of people – still has a lot of surprises for them.”

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” hits theaters July 31.

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