Tom Holland Vows to Mentor the Next Spider-Man Actor: ‘I’ll Take It Upon Myself to Teach Them’
Marvel fans have been through multiple live-action iterations of Spider-Man, but Tom Holland’s stint as the character has stolen hearts. Naturally, the idea that Spider-Man: No Way Home could be the actor’s last time in the suit left many feeling bittersweet about the upcoming film. And while it’s unclear if we’ll see Holland as Spider-Man again, he’s promised to mentor the next actor to take on the role — whether that’s right after No Way Home or way down the line.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is an ending
Regardless of what Holland does next, the cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home has emphasized that the film is an ending of sorts. Both Holland and Zendaya admitted they’re treating it as such, though that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll never see their characters again.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Holland left a return on the table but admitted it would feel different from the Homecoming films:
“We were all treating [Spider-Man: No Way Home] as the end of a franchise, let’s say. I think if we were lucky enough to dive into these characters again, you’d be seeing a very different version. It would no longer be the Homecoming trilogy. We would give it some time and try to build something different and tonally change the films.”
In that sense, No Way Home could simply mark a transition into a more adult Spider-Man franchise. It’s also possible Holland could work on the next few Spidey movies with Sony instead of Marvel Studios. Whatever happens, there’s no concrete answer regarding how long Holland will play Peter Parker. However, he does have a plan for when he bids farewell to the character.
Tom Holland wants to mentor the next Spider-Man
Even if Holland returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s inevitable that he’ll eventually say goodbye to Spider-Man. It’s also likely fans could see another character take up his mantle somewhere down the line. And if that happens, Holland is prepared to show his replacement the ropes.
Per The Direct, Holland spoke with Total Film and explained, “whether it’s next year or in five years, I’ll take it upon myself to teach them about the responsibilities of being Spider-Man.”
He went on to discuss those responsibilities, speaking about how younger audiences have reacted to his character:
“When you meet these young kids, and they’re at the age where they can’t really figure out whether it’s real or not, it’s so exciting. I always do the accent and chat to them. It’s really fun. And it’s a responsibility I’ve really loved carrying. But, when someone else takes my place, I will be sure to give them some advice about how to deal with it and give them my number, and basically say, ‘Whenever you need me, mate, I’m here.’”
It’s sweet that Holland wants to ensure the next Spider-Man has support in the role. But do his worlds signal a departure sooner rather than later?
Will the actor be back as Spider-Man?
While Holland’s future in the MCU is once again unclear, it seems unlikely that No Way Home will be the last time he dons the Spidey suit. Those who have seen Venom know (and for those who haven’t, spoilers ahead) that the post-credits scene teased a meeting between Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Holland’s Peter Parker.
Whether that will come to fruition in another Sony or Marvel film remains to be seen, but it leaves an opening for Holland’s character to return. And it would certainly make for an interesting mash-up.
Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on Dec. 17.
