Ned doesn't remember Peter Parker—and that is the massive, heartbreaking cliffhanger that has kept kids (and more than a few adults) obsessing over the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the last few years. The "forget-me" spell at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home was a total wipe, leaving Peter as a ghost in his own life. But with the 2026 sequel, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to drop later this year, the big question isn't just if they’ll reunite, but whether the magic has a leak.
TL;DR: As of right now, Ned Leeds has zero memory of Peter Parker or their history together. The upcoming sequel, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is expected to center on Peter navigating college life as a stranger to his former best friend, though trailers and fan theories suggest that Ned’s "residual" connection to the multiverse might be the key to breaking the spell. If your kid is grieving the loss of the "Guy in the Chair," this movie is the one they’ve been waiting for.
To understand why your kid is still asking about this, you have to look at how Spider-Man: No Way Home ended. It wasn't just a typical superhero victory; it was an emotional gut-punch. To save the multiverse, Peter Parker had Doctor Strange cast a spell that made every single person on Earth forget he exists.
That included MJ, and it included Ned. In those final moments at the donut shop, Peter goes to see them, intending to explain everything. But when he sees they’re both heading to MIT—safe, happy, and unburdened by the danger that follows Spider-Man—he chooses to stay a stranger. Ned looks right at him and sees just another customer. For a kid who has grown up with the Peter-and-Ned duo as the ultimate "best friend goals," that rejection feels permanent.
The title of the new movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is a direct nod to a famous (and controversial) era in the Marvel comics. In the books, "Brand New Day" was the reset button after Peter’s secret identity was revealed to the world.
In the 2026 film, we’re expecting to see a Peter Parker who is truly on his own. He’s in a cramped apartment, he’s likely attending Empire State University, and he’s watching Ned and MJ live their lives from a distance. The tension of the movie isn't just about the new villain; it’s about the "will they, won't they" of the friendship. Based on the first teaser, there are already hints that Ned is feeling a sense of deja vu. Magic in the MCU is rarely 100% clean, and fans are betting that Ned’s brief time wielding Doctor Strange’s sling ring in the previous movie left him with some level of magical "immunity" or at least a very loud intuition that something is missing.
If you want to sound like you know your stuff when talking to your kid about this, bring up the Hobgoblin. In the comics, Ned Leeds eventually becomes (or is framed as) the Hobgoblin, one of Spider-Man's most dangerous enemies.
Ever since Ned joked about "not turning into a supervillain and trying to kill you" in No Way Home, the internet has been convinced that his memory loss is the perfect setup for a tragic villain arc. The idea is simple: without Peter there to ground him, and with Ned potentially discovering his own magical aptitude, he could be manipulated by a real villain into becoming an antagonist. It’s the kind of high-stakes drama that kids love to debate, and it makes the "does he remember" question even more urgent. If Ned remembers Peter because they’re fighting each other, that’s a very different movie than a happy reunion at a coffee shop.
For most kids, the "Guy in the Chair" wasn't just a funny bit; it was the ultimate representation of how they engage with their own friends. Ned was the one who knew the secret, the one who helped with the tech, and the one who provided the emotional support. Taking that away didn't just make Peter lonely; it made the audience feel lonely too.
When a kid asks "Does Ned remember Peter?", they aren't just asking about plot points. They’re asking if relationships that feel permanent can actually be erased. It’s a heavy concept for the elementary and middle school crowd. The best move here is to lean into the Spider-Man franchise’s history of "the hero’s sacrifice." Peter chose to be forgotten to keep Ned safe. That’s a massive conversation starter about what we do for the people we love, even when it costs us something huge.
If your kid is deep in the "memory wipe" feels, the best thing you can do is explore the wider Spider-Man world while waiting for the new movie. The MCU films (the Tom Holland ones) are just one slice of the pie.
For a lighter, more friendship-focused vibe, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel Across the Spider-Verse offer a different take on the "Spider-Team" dynamic. They deal with the same themes—loneliness, the burden of the mask, the need for community—but without the crushing finality of everyone forgetting the protagonist.
If they're ready for something more intense, the Spider-Man games for PlayStation (which you can find on our best games for kids list) feature a Peter and Miles Morales partnership that is arguably the best version of the "mentor and student" relationship in modern media.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is likely to be rated PG-13, sticking to the standard MCU formula of action violence and some mild profanity. The real "content" to watch for is the emotional weight. If your kid is sensitive to themes of isolation or the loss of a friend, this movie is going to be a lot.
The move is to watch the previous films again before the new one drops. Use it as a chance to talk about how Peter has changed. He started as a kid who wanted everyone to know he was an Avenger; he ended as a man who was willing to let everyone forget him so they could be safe. That’s a growth arc worth pointing out.
Q: Is Ned Leeds in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Yes, Jacob Batalon is confirmed to return as Ned Leeds. While his role is expected to be different now that he doesn't know Peter, he remains a central part of the story's emotional core.
Q: Does MJ remember Peter Parker in the new movie?
Based on the ending of the last film, MJ has no memory of Peter. However, like Ned, she still wears the broken "Black Dahlia" necklace Peter gave her, suggesting that some physical objects or feelings might have survived the spell.
Q: Is Ned going to become the Hobgoblin?
This is the most popular fan theory for the 2026 sequel. While Marvel hasn't confirmed it, the comics provide plenty of source material for Ned turning into a villain, and the "memory wipe" provides a perfect tragic motivation.
Q: What age is Spider-Man: Brand New Day appropriate for?
Like the rest of the MCU, it will likely land in the 10-12+ range. The action is usually "comic book" style, but the emotional themes of loneliness and the complex multiverse plot might be a bit much for younger elementary kids to fully grasp without help.
Ned doesn't remember Peter yet, but the entire point of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is to see if that memory can be recovered. It’s a movie about starting over, and for a generation of kids who felt the sting of that No Way Home ending, it’s the most anticipated resolution in years.
If your kid is obsessed with the "memory leak" theories, they’re actually practicing narrative literacy—they’re looking for clues, predicting character arcs, and engaging with the "rules" of a fictional world. That’s a win.
- Check out our Spider-Man pillar page for the full watch order and age breakdown.
- For more high-stakes action, see our best movies for kids list.
- If your kid is in that "tween" sweet spot for Marvel, dive into our digital guide for middle school.
- Get a personalized movie recommendation for your next family night
