Tom Holland‘s name is well known these days, and that’s not just due to his ability to act as everyone’s favourite web-slinging superhero. The rest of the world has been as surprised as the audience at his ability to keep secrets as it’s been surprised by his acting talents. Holland has had a reputation as a goofy Hollywood star for accidentally divulging details of her story on interviews, and for revealing information that was supposed to be kept confidential until the studio announced it. But, when it came to the big news of the big news man, Robert Downey Jr. was back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the iconic villain Doctor Doom, Holland was able to keep the secret from the public eye, but was unable to keep it from one very special person in his life.
The Spider-Man actor recently penned an essay about the day he found out that his old co-star and mentor would be returning with a bang in to the franchise that made both of them household names. During an honest conversation with Cinemania, Holland talked about that phone call and his initial response: running to tell his now-wife Zendaya about the “earthshaking news”. In the telling of that conversation, Holland admitted that he hung up the phone and said, “I think I said to Zendaya ‘Downey is back.’” The actor’s excitement at the prospect of working with Downey and the importance of the casting can easily be seen in his inability to hold back.
The announcement of Robert Downey Jr. would now be taking over as Doctor Doom shook the entertainment industry and worldwide fan base to its core. Known for his portrayal of Tony Stark and Iron Man for more than 10 years, Downey has come to represent the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has got fans around the world to rave about Iron Man’s death in Avengers Endgame. His return as the iconic villain Doctor Doom is one of the boldest and bravest moves in superhero film history, as it also resurrected the character as Stark instead.He’s being brought back not as Stark, but as the iconic Doctor Doom is just one of the boldest and bravest moves in superhero film history. The news was not only personally significant to Holland, who had co-starred with Downey in several Spider-Man movies, but also professionally interesting, as he and Downey had become very close as friends.
During the interview, though, Holland did admit that the studio is thwarting him from the juicy details because he’s “spoiling” some things and has “a reputation.” The actor’s admission is lighthearted yet also laden with wonderment and question regarding what is to come for his character. Indeed, Holland has, at some points, unwittingly leaked out hints and spoilers for various stories, and he appears to be aware of the hesitation of the studio to reveal too much to him – even though his character is arguably at the heart of the ongoing story. His excitement, however, hasn’t waned as he’s eager to find out how Peter Parker’s story will intertwine with this new chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr’s friendship first developed on the sets of Captain America Civil War, and then in the following Spider-Man movies, with Downey acting as a mentor to Holland both on and off set. Their relationship as Tony Stark and Peter Parker was akin to a true mentor-ship that went beyond the fictional world that they lived in. Holland’s approach to the character and the franchise was influenced by Downey and they have caught up many times over the years, going beyond business. Holland explained that he meets with Robert at times, just to catch up with each other. He called and spoke to me, it is really exciting. Downey’s personal revelation of this news only further reinforces the trust and true love between the two actors.
As for the details of how Doctor Doom will fit into the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe story, Holland is quite vague. The studio’s refusal to release information about the actor seems to be a wise move after having seen how helpful Holland’s enthusiastism can be at times, but it can also bring out some unwanted surprises. Holland was curious: “When I do get to grace that set, I’m just really curious what does that mean for Peter, and how does that work?” The actor’s anticipation is a sign of the larger buzz that has been building around the film, with millions of fans excited to see how this unexpected development will impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tom Holland and Zendaya have been a Hollywood couple for a few years now and they’ve been handling their relationship in the public spotlight well, to say the least. Not only do they continue to work together in the entertainment industry, but they are also working together in their personal lives. The couple have been very active in the promotion efforts for Spider-Man Brand New Day, the newest entry in the series where Holland is once again the character of Peter Parker. The title in itself gives away the fact that the character is branching out to new avenues after the events of Spider-Man No Way Home and both actors have been making efforts to drum up some excitement around the venture.
In addition to the Spider-Man brand, the couple will have another exciting working relationship in the near future. The fact that both Holland and Zendaya have been cast in Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey shows just how much they can fit into a film and how versatile they are as actors and working with some of the most well-known directors in the industry. Together on camera, they have always had amazing chemistry and on and off screen they have consistently had awesome chemistry that has been very memorable and appreciated. The superhero genre has been the staple of Nolan’s films, and the Odyssey is an exception to that trend, giving both actors the opportunity to bring their talents to new extremes.
