Marvel fans are getting a clearer picture of how Spider-Man: Brand New Day ended up with Destin Daniel Cretton behind the camera.
During a recent interview promoting the film, Cretton revealed that after stepping away from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios later approached him about directing what eventually became Avengers: Doomsday. However, the filmmaker ultimately turned it down because he didn’t feel he was the right creative fit for the story.
“When I told Kevin Feige I didn’t think I was the right fit for that,” Cretton explained, “he mentioned ‘Spidey’ in the room, which was a huge relief to me because I thought he’d be like, ‘OK, see you later.’”
Cretton also explained that his decision wasn’t about walking away from Marvel. Instead, it came down to finding a personal connection with the material.
“I don’t do any movie just to do the movie. Until I find an intimate, personal connection to the material, I don’t feel like I could do a good job,” he said, adding that simply directing a major franchise film wasn’t enough reason to commit.
Doom and Kang [marvel comics]
Originally, Cretton had been announced as the director of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2022 following the success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. After he exited the project in late 2023, Marvel eventually reworked its Multiverse Saga plans, replacing Kang with Doctor Doom and transforming the film into Avengers: Doomsday under directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
Rather than returning for another Avengers ensemble, Cretton found a project that resonated with him creatively in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film has already become a massive success, earning record-breaking box office numbers and setting the stage for Spider-Man’s future in the MCU.
Looking back, the decision appears to have worked out well for both Marvel and Cretton. The Russo brothers are steering the next Avengers event, while Cretton has delivered one of the biggest Spider-Man films in the franchise, proving that sometimes the right project is simply a better fit than the biggest one.
