Tramell Tillman recalls NDA before Spider-Man: Brand New Day meeting
Tillman said he was “pretty sure” he signed an NDA before discussing a pivotal Marvel role with director Destin Daniel Cretton.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Tramell Tillman said he was “pretty sure” he had to sign nondisclosure agreements before his first conversation with director Destin Daniel Cretton about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a process the actor described as frustratingly secretive.
In a post-release interview with GQ, Tillman said his team called him around Memorial Day weekend the previous year about a possible Marvel movie. A meeting with Cretton followed, but Tillman said he had little clarity about the part or its place in the film.
“Everything was shrouded in secrecy,” Tillman told GQ. He said Cretton could only share limited information, though the director described the role as pivotal.
That left Tillman weighing whether to accept the offer or wait for another possible Marvel opportunity. He called the decision a leap of faith, and ultimately joined the film.
Who does Tramell Tillman play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Spoiler warning: Tillman plays Bill Metzger, identified by GQ as the director of Damage Control in the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the character. Tillman said Metzger is focused on safeguarding Damage Control staff, the city and the world.
His character was not publicly identified when Variety reported Tillman’s casting in August 2025. At that point, the outlet said only that he had joined the cast of the Cretton-directed movie, with details about his role being kept under wraps.
GQ reported that the secrecy around Metzger was tied in part to another reveal in the finished film: Sadie Sink plays Jean Grey. The publication said her arrival introduces the X-Men and the MCU’s mutant storyline.
Tillman told GQ that he kept his involvement to himself while online speculation swirled about who he might be playing. Once the film opened, he was able to discuss the part and the conversations that shaped it with Cretton and writer Justin Kuritzkes.
For Tillman, the early pitch came down to a sparse but consequential promise: a major role, with many of the particulars unavailable until later. His account offers a close-up of the uncertainty he faced before saying yes.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.