The biggest opening weekend in movie history comes with an obvious follow-up question, and Sony’s boss just gave the only answer that matters.
Speaking with Variety as the Brand New Day victory lap begins, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman-CEO Tom Rothman was asked whether the studio is really going to let Tom Holland walk away after a debut like this — especially with Holland saying a succession plan is already laid out for the next Peter Parker.
“I love these questions. It’s like when a coach wins the Super Bowl and he goes to the press conference and they say to him, ‘Are you going to win it next year?'” Rothman said. “The honest truth is we don’t know at this point. This has been the focus of our studio for almost two years. I can tell you this: I certainly, certainly hope. I heard Tom say at some point that he wanted to continue, and we would love it if he did.”
Pressed on whether there’s a world in which another Spider-Man sequel with Holland happens, Rothman kept it to one word: “Yes.”
That one word arrives with historic leverage behind it. Brand New Day just dethroned Avengers: Endgame with a $360 million domestic debut, the biggest opening weekend ever, on the way to a global launch that ranks second all time with $2 billion in sight — and a record 24.1 million tickets already sold.
Holland And Zendaya: “We Would Love To”
The stars are already on the same page. Asked about Spider-Man 5 in a press tour video with Serieously making the rounds on TikTok, Holland and Zendaya answered in tandem.
“I mean, we would love to,” Holland said, with Zendaya jumping in: “As long as it’s…” — “If it’s in the cards,” Holland continued. “It’s a little unclear right now, but I’m sure whatever happens with Spider-Man will be very bright.”
“It will be great,” Zendaya added. “No matter what.” Holland: “And lovely.”
Kevin Feige: “There are always plans”
Update: When asked by Variety if there are plans to make another Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige said:
“There are always plans. But right now, he’s going to rest after that global tour. He and Zendaya are going to take a good and restful victory lap, which they very much deserve.”
Everything Points To Tom Holland Returning For Spider-Man 5
Sony may not be ready to announce Spider-Man 5, but everyone involved is already pointing in the same direction.
Rothman says there is “yes” a path forward and that Sony “would love it” if Holland continues. Holland says he would love to return.
Zendaya is open to coming back.
And the Marvel Studios partnership between Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal just delivered the biggest domestic opening weekend in movie history.
Holland may have a succession plan and even a name in mind for the next Spider-Man, but that handoff does not appear to be happening anytime soon.
Studios do not move on from the leading man who just knocked Avengers: Endgame out of the record books. They build the next movie around him.
After what Brand New Day just accomplished, the question is no longer whether Sony wants another Tom Holland Spider-Man movie. It is how quickly the studio can put the deal together.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now and expands to IMAX in North America this Thursday. Follow every record at the Spider-Man: Brand New Day hub.
