Spider-Man: Brand New Day has had an eight-second kiss scene and some swearing removed from its Indian release, prompting speculation about who the kiss involves and whether it hints at a plot spoiler. The cut has fuelled fan theories about whether Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Zendaya's MJ rekindle their romance, or whether the kiss instead involves MJ and a new love interest played by Eman Esfandi, potentially witnessed by a heartbroken Peter Parker.

This is not the first time Indian censors have trimmed romantic content from major blockbusters: James Gunn's Superman had a 33-second mid-air kiss between Superman and Lois Lane removed for being "overly sensual", while Oppenheimer saw a nude scene digitally altered with a CGI dress in some regions. Such edits have previously drawn criticism as excessive, and it remains unclear exactly why the Spider-Man scene was cut. The film opens in cinemas from 31 July 2026, with early Amazon Prime-linked screenings starting on Wednesday, and much of the pre-release intrigue continues to centre on the mystery surrounding Sadie Sink's still-unconfirmed character.