With Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Studios teaming up for yet another Spider-Man reboot (and hopefully the last for the foreseeable future), finding a leading man who’s got what it takes to fill Garfield’s shoes was absolutely necessary. Producer Amy Pascal acknowledged the importance of the decision, saying, “Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world.”
They seem to think they’ve found their guy, as Holland was picked after a worldwide search and two screen tests with stars from Marvel’s cast of characters: Holland had to hold his own on-camera time with both Robert Downey Jr. (aka Iron Man) and Chris Evans (aka Captain America). This wasn’t Holland’s first time sharing the screen with big names, though; he starred in 2012’s The Impossible with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor. His resume also includes a stint playing Billy Elliot in the musical version in his native England.
Up first for Holland will be Captain America: Civil War, set for release on May 6, 2016. He’ll swing right into the MCU, joining a movie that has already begun filming. It’s unclear how big of a role he’ll actually play, especially with the superhero film already crowded, but it should be a good way for him to learn from Marvel vets. It won’t be long, after all, before he’s headlining his own movie. Still untitled, the next Spider-Man installment is scheduled to hit theaters on July 28, 2017.
