Peter, MJ, and Ned have grown from awkward high-school friends into a tight-knit trio who have survived multiverse chaos, heartbreak, and loss across the Spider-Man films. Their bond has deepened through every movie, with each of them maturing in their own way while still keeping the same playful energy. But in any group of three, someone usually ends up as the unofficial parent who reins everyone in when it is time to work.

And that is exactly what Zendaya did on set.

While promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Serieously with Tom Holland, Zendaya revealed that the set was often full of jokes and chaos, especially between Tom and Jacob Batalon.

“Sometimes it’s you two just f******* around… and I’m like ‘yo, focus up we’re shooting a movie still guys’,” Zendaya said which underlines how the trio often had to balance fun with the actual work.

Zendaya also explained that the dynamic would shift depending on the moment, with the three of them joking together, or sometimes just her and Jacob goofing off while Holland stayed in his Spidey headspace. She told Serieously that she sometimes felt like the only one keeping things on track, which made her step into more of a supervisory role.

When the mood got too loose, she said she would remind them that they were still on the clock and that she basically became the teacher in the room. Tom added that she often had to put them both in their place, and Zendaya shared that the director found it funny, but also sometimes just wanted them to say the lines.

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While the trio keeps things light on set, the film itself is making serious noise at the global box office.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has just delivered China’s biggest superhero opening in seven years, with the film already surpassing midday totals for Far From Home and heading toward a massive first-day haul. Local analysts are now projecting a lifetime total that could reach around $255 million, which would make it the biggest Hollywood run in China since Avengers: Endgame.

The opening is especially striking because superhero movies have struggled in China over the past few years, with many Marvel releases blocked or earning far less than expected. Brand New Day is changing that trend, with presales alone hitting about $18.6 million, which is the strongest for any imported film in the last three summers.

China also got the film early, with a Wednesday release that came two days before the U.S. launch, along with an exclusive IMAX window that added to the hype. Tom Holland and Zendaya’s visit to Shanghai for the local premiere only amplified the excitement, and the film has already cleared the midday mark of over $16.5 million.

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What do you think about Zendaya keeping the set in check while the film dominates globally? Let us know in the comments.