Mary Jane's New Boyfriend Paul From Spider-Man: Brand New Day Explained

Actor Eman Esfandi is reportedly joining the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day as one of the most hated characters in modern Marvel Comics: Mary Jane Watson's boyfriend Paul. Peter's rival for MJ's affections has been almost-universally reviled in the comics, and now it seems he's going to cause problems for Peter in Brand New Day.

If the rumors are true, Esfandi will join the MCU as Paul Rabin. The thing is, he's absolutely perfect casting.

However, it's a tough role to take. The character is hated by hardcore Marvel readers, and that might actually be his purpose in the movie. Paul might serve as a non-superpowered antagonist as Peter is beset from all sides by multiple villains.

Paul Rabin Is Marvel's Most Hated Character In Years; Is He Mary Jane's New MCU Boyfriend?

Peter Parker's Romantic Foil, Explained

Not since the 1960s have a trio called Peter, Paul, and Mary been such a big deal in pop culture. If Mary Jane Watson's comic book boyfriend Paul Rabin does join the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it is likely going to supercharge Marvel fans' passionate dislike of the character.

Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, of course, are regarded as one of Marvel's most iconic couples. Except they have spent most of the last twenty years apart, rather than together, in Marvel lore. This has left a generation of Peter/MJ 'shippers frustrated enough. Making matters worse, since 2022, the biggest obstacle has been Mary Jane's long-term relationship with Paul Rabin.

The thing is, while it's true Marvel fans are predisposed to hate Paul because he's in the way of Peter and MJ getting back together, the character has rarely been written as likable. The polite way of saying it is that Paul is often characterized as rough-around-the-edges. Sometimes, though, he's portrayed as a straight-up jerk.

Eman Esfandi Is Perfect Casting For Paul In The MCU, But It's A Thankless Role

Exploring Options For Adapting Paul To The MCU

Giving Mary Jane a new boyfriend in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a no-brainer, from a dramatic standpoint. The previous film, No Way Home, ended with Peter Parker erasing himself from Mary Jane's memory. Having MJ be in a relationship is a natural complication in the story arc of her and Peter reuniting.

Based on looks alone, Eman Esfandi, best known as Ezra Bridger on Ahsoka, is a great fit for the Paul Rabin role. The real question is, how is the MCU going to play the character? Broadly speaking, there are three options. First, there's the comic-accurate version of the character. Not a bad guy, but not the guy fans want to see with Mary Jane.

Alternatively, the MCU could activate Paul as an overt antagonist for Peter. The MCU could let fans' hate for Paul flow through it, and make him the worst, most unlikable incarnation of the character. Like an over-the-top awful boyfriend in a romantic comedy. This might actually be the easiest option, given that fans will go into the movie with a grudge against Paul.

The third option? The MCU could try to deliver a truly likable version of Paul. One that charms Marvel readers despite the comic character's reputation. One who is a romantic rival to Peter not because he's the worst guy Mary Jane could possibly date, but because he actually might the best. That would be a dramatic swerve, but harder to pull off.

"Brand New Day" Is Marvel's Chance To Fix 20 Years Of Mistakes With Spider-Man

Hate Him All You Want, Paul Needs To Be Included

Notably, 2025 finally gave Marvel fans the Paul/Mary Jane break-up they've been clamoring for. In fact, MJ straight up dumped Paul, in a move that felt like Marvel was finally acknowledging how poorly received the character, and the romance, have been. That makes it even more notable that 2026 may very well see the introduction of the MCU's Paul.

The anti-Paul sentiment among Marvel fans is rooted in concerns that go back well before his creation. Longtime readers feel like Marvel derailed Spider-Man lore all the way back in 2007 when it erased Peter and Mary Jane's marriage from canon with the One More Day storyline, a move the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home evoked.

Brand New Day could set right what once went wrong with the franchise, or it could suffer the same pitfalls as its namesake storyline, which followed One More Day. Either way, despite being a relatively new wrinkle in the Peter/MJ dynamic, Paul feels like he had to be part of Brand New Day.

Paul's MCU Role Is Bad News For Peter Parker, Great News For Fans Of Superhero Drama

Brand New Day Just Got Messier; That's A Good Thing

It's entirely possible Spider-Man: Brand New Day could encapsulate Paul's entire relationship with Mary Jane. If Peter Parker is able to restore MJ's memory of him by the end of the movie, or if they fall in love a second time, Paul could just be one more hurdle to be overcome over the course of the runtime.

In any case, Paul's inclusion in the Brand New Day script could be a red flag for even more trouble headed Peter Parker's way. For the sake of the film's stakes, though, it is a green flag. It's a great dimension for Marvel to add to the story, which should add to audiences' excitement for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.