Tom Holland Has Picked His Spider-Man Successor

Earlier this June, Spider-Man: Brand New Day lead Tom Holland once again touched upon his readiness to eventually move on from the Marvel Cinematic Universe role he has defined since his 2015 debut in Captain America: Civil War. Speaking with Empire, he expressed a desire to help shepherd the next phase of the franchise, stating, “Whatever that looks like, I’m not entirely sure yet. But if I could provide the same kind of support Robert Downey Jr. gave me, I’d be perfectly content to swing off into the sunset.”

In a fresh conversation with Esquire, Holland went a step further, naming a specific actor he believes has the potential to step into the iconic suit: Owen Cooper. “Owen Cooper would be brilliant,” Holland noted. “He is incredibly talented and clearly the current breakout star.”

Cooper, the rising young talent known for his nuanced performance in last year’s Netflix thriller Adolescence—where he portrayed a preteen entangled in a murder investigation—has quickly become a critical darling. His accolades include a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, marking him as a formidable presence. Following his film debut in Wuthering Heights earlier this year, he is slated to star in 2027’s Cry to Heaven.

Should Cooper eventually take on the role, he would continue the trend of British actors portraying Peter Parker, following in the footsteps of both Holland and Andrew Garfield. This growing “British invasion” of the MCU’s most pivotal American superhero role is a curious recurring trend.

Regarding his own future, Holland reiterated his interest in acting as a mentor figure for a successor, much as RDJ did for him. While such a dynamic would realistically require multiversal narrative loops, the possibility of Miles Morales entering the MCU remains a subject of intense speculation. However, due to the complex, ongoing licensing agreements between Sony and Disney, the arrival of Morales or other Spider-Verse favorites remains uncertain.

For the time being, Holland remains firmly in the red-and-blue suit. Fans can see his latest outing when Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres in theaters on July 31.

The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star admits to “actively sifting” through fan discussions, which, frankly, sounds like a recipe for a headache.

Source: Polygon