A character introduced in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, who remains unnamed throughout the film's dialogue, may have had his identity revealed through closed captions. The individual, who becomes the new boyfriend of MJ following Peter Parker's erasure from everyone's memory, is identified as "Paul" in the film's subtitles, according to reports from viewers who utilized the captioning option. This character, simply referred to as "The Boyfriend" in the movie's credits, has a minor but emotionally significant role, impacting Peter Parker's state of mind when he witnesses MJ with him.
For those familiar with the Spider-Man comic continuity, the name Paul Rabin carries a significant, and often negative, association. In the comics, Paul Rabin is Mary Jane Watson's long-term boyfriend after her separation from Peter Parker. While their relationship eventually ended and the character was later killed off in the comics, his presence in the film as an unnamed suitor for MJ could be setting the stage for future narrative developments.
The film concludes with MJ and Peter maintaining a friendship, though MJ lacks memories of their past relationship due to Doctor Strange's memory alteration spell. Speculation among fans suggests that Jean Grey's actions might have inadvertently triggered dormant memories in MJ and Ned. This is hinted at when MJ is seen holding a necklace Peter had given her, while sitting on a familiar rooftop.
The potential introduction of Paul, even if only via captions thus far, raises questions about his future role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given the mixed reception of the character in the comics, his on-screen naming and potential integration into future storylines could be met with a similar level of scrutiny from fans regarding his position as a rival for MJ's affections.