Tom Holland says Spider-Man: Brand New Day didn’t get delayed because of trouble at Marvel or Sony. It got delayed because of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and according to Holland, the move may have made the next Spider-Man movie better.
In a new GQ profile tied to The Odyssey, Holland explained how both productions ended up on the same schedule, why he personally called Sony to move Spider-Man, and how the extra time helped reshape the movie fans will see in 2026.
The Odyssey Created A Spider-Man Scheduling Problem
Holland said Nolan offered him the role of Telemachus in The Odyssey, but there was one big problem: the filming dates lined up with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
With his Marvel schedule already in place, Holland knew he had to make a tough call. He took the issue directly to Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman and asked if the studio could move Spider-Man so he could work with Nolan.
Why Sony Agreed To Move Spider-Man
Sony agreed to shift the movie, and Holland says Nolan’s reputation played a big role in making it happen.
Nolan is known for running tight productions and finishing on schedule, which gave Sony more confidence that Holland wouldn’t be stuck on The Odyssey longer than expected. Holland told GQ the conversation may have gone differently with another director.
Nolan ended up starting The Odyssey on the exact day planned and finished nine days early.
The Delay May Have Helped Brand New Day
Holland says the delay gave Brand New Day the time it needed.
The extra runway helped the movie land Destin Daniel Cretton as director and gave the team more time to work on the script. Holland told GQ, “The Odyssey almost saved Spider-Man because we wouldn’t have had Destin.”
Holland said Cretton would not have been available under the original schedule. The six-month delay gave the movie a better path forward and helped the script get to the place they wanted.
Holland Brought Nolan’s Mindset Back To Marvel
Working with Nolan also seems to have changed how Holland looked at Spider-Man.
He said Nolan’s level of preparation was unlike anything he had seen before. Holland then pushed the Spider-Man team to approach Brand New Day with the same mindset, arguing the movie needed a real reason to exist beyond being another major franchise entry.
Holland also credited Cretton for sharing that approach, which is a good sign for fans hoping Brand New Day feels like more than another standard MCU sequel.
When Spider-Man: Brand New Day Comes Out
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31, 2026, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Holland as Peter Parker.
The cast also includes Zendaya, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, and Sadie Sink in a mystery role rumored to be Jean Grey.
The Odyssey opens July 17, 2026, just two weeks before Brand New Day. Holland will have two major summer releases landing almost back-to-back.
