Tom Holland opens up about playing Spider-Man 4 and says the script still needs work but it’s getting there. Refreshingly, he also admits the script isn’t quite where he thinks it should be in terms of meeting fan expectations.
Holland appeared on the Rich Roll podcast to promote the release of his new non-alcoholic beer line, Bero, as the 28-year-old actor is sober for over a year and a half now.
Tom Holland Discusses the Challenge of Choosing the Right Path Forward
Tom Holland shares his thoughts on having the “Power of Choice” and how it has impacted his decisions regarding the future of his role as Spider-Man.
“I think the biggest thing that I’m facing right now, which is without a shadow of a doubt the most first-world problem that anyone has ever experienced, is the Power of Choice. It comes down to Spider-Man. When I signed my contract for Spider-Man 1, I signed a six-picture deal. I was 18 years old and more excited than I’d ever been about anything. For the last 10 years, I have been at the beck and call of Marvel and Sony, and proudly so. It’s been the best experience of my life. I’m now at a juncture where I can say no, and now that I’ve been afforded that power, I am struggling to figure out what is the right thing to do.”
Navigating Newfound Power and Responsibility
Holland speaks about learning to use his newfound power carefully and ensuring his decisions align with what’s best for the character and the fans.
“It’s meant I’ve had to put my foot down in certain instances, which I haven’t been allowed to do in the past. The learning curve that I’m on right now is dealing with that new sense of power, making sure that I don’t abuse it, but making sure that I do the best thing for me rather than for the studio, and really the best thing for the character. I don’t want to make another movie for the sake of making it. The studio wants to make another Spider-Man, and I want to make another one. I want to make many more, but I want to do it for the right reasons.”
Reflecting on His Early Days as Spider-Man & talking with Robert Downey Jr
He discusses his early days and the feeling of being victorious just by landing the role. Holland also says he has been talking with Robert Downey Jr. and knew about RDJ returning as Doctor Doom to the MCU.
“Sometimes I miss the day when getting the job was the win. I am navigating and figuring out what having that kind of power means and that responsibility. I’m figuring it out, speaking to people, and asking questions. I’ve been speaking to Downey a lot, especially about him making his return, which is super exciting. That was a tough secret to sit on because I have a reputation for ruining things, and I strategically have done no lopped around secrets.”
The Weight of Responsibility Towards Fans
Holland talks about the responsibility he feels towards fans and how that impacts his decisions on future Spider-Man projects.
“In terms of challenges or things that I’m dealing with, that would be it. I’m by no means complaining. It’s a wonderful place to be, but it is something that keeps me up at night. I’m constantly thinking, ‘Is this the right thing to do? Am I going to do justice to the character? Am I going to do justice to the fans?’ I definitely don’t want to just make a movie for the sake of it because that’s not what Spider-Man represents. It’s a complicated one. It’s going really well, though.”
Expressing Gratitude Towards Marvel Fans
He acknowledges the fans’ support and emphasizes the importance of maintaining creative integrity in upcoming projects.
“I owe everything to the fans of Marvel and myself. They’ve been so kind and generous to me. After Civil War came out, I felt like Civil War was my audition to the world. I’d gotten the part of Spider-Man, did the film with the Russo brothers, and that felt like, ‘Will you embrace me as Spider-Man?’ They did, and I’m so grateful. I feel like I owe it to them to deliver the best version of what the next chapter for Spider-Man looks like, and I think that’s really important. The creative integrity for something like that is really important. The studio is on board, supportive, and collaborative, and I’ve been blown away by how welcoming they’ve been into that creative room.”
Current Progress on Spider-Man 4
Tom provides an update on the development of Spider-Man 4 and acknowledges the challenges they face in bringing it to fruition.
“We’re working now with the pedal to the metal, trying to get it going as soon as possible. Things are looking great, but there are still a lot of moving pieces that need to come together for us to hit the ground running.”
Balancing Marvel’s Bigger Picture with Individual Projects
Holland explains the logistical and creative challenges of making another Spider-Man movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s broader plans.
“I’m not really sure how much I can talk about the challenges we face creatively and logistically. One of the things to bear in mind with Marvel is that your film is a small cog in a large machine, and that machine has got to keep running. You need to make sure that you can fit into that timeline at the right time to benefit the bigger picture. So that’s one of the challenges we’re facing, and the time in which we need to get that done is a tall order but definitely achievable with the fantastic people we have working on it now.”
Holland’s Thoughts on the Current Script for Spider-Man 4
He shares his excitement for the script, noting that while there is still work to be done, he believes it has the potential to be a film worthy of fans’ respect.
“But my biggest thing is the creative. We have a creative and a pitch and a draft which is excellent. It needs work, but the writers are doing a great job. I read it three weeks ago, and it really lit a fire in me. Zendaya and I sat down and read it together, and at times we were bouncing around the living room like, ‘This is a real movie worthy of the fans’ respect.’ But there are a few things we need to figure out before we can really get it going. It’s exciting, and I’m really, really excited about it.”
