“I’ve still got the article saved on my computer.”
Listen, I think it’s safe to say that Tom Holland is the perfect Spider-Man.
Han Myung-gu / WireImage / Getty Images
Now that he’s been in several Marvel movies as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Tom is reflecting on how his wild and exciting journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe started.
“The audition process was horrible. It was seven months of auditioning. I must’ve done six auditions, and they don’t tell you anything. You’re waiting and waiting, and then, eventually, I got a screen test.”
Chuck Zlotnick / Sony / Marvel / Everett Collection
Tom said he flew to Atlanta where it was him and “six other kids,” who were there to screen test with Robert Downey Jr., and Tom still believes that this screen test was “the best audition [he’s] ever done.”
Sony / Marvel / Everett Collection
“On the first take, Downey just completely changed the scene,” Tom recalled. “We started riffing with each other.”
Then, six weeks went by and Tom heard nothing, and he was convinced he didn’t get the part — especially after he checked online polls that didn’t have him as a favorite for the role.
Variety / Via variety.com
Tom said, “I was definitely not the favorite to get the part from the public.”
Finally, Tom got called back for another screen test, this time it was for a fight scene opposite Chris Evans, but he didn’t hear anything afterwards AGAIN.
YouTube / Sony / Marvel / Via youtu.be
“By that point, it had been an amazing enough of an experience that if I hadn’t got the part, I would’ve felt like I’d at least achieved something to get to that point.”
“I remember going on my phone and checking Instagram, and Marvel had posted a picture of Spider-Man, of the cartoon. And by this point, I kind of had assumed I hadn’t got it, because no one had called me.”
Variety / Via variety.com
Daniel being stunned that Tom found out online is hilarious to me.
“I got my computer, and my dog was sitting next to me. I type in ‘Marvel.’ I’ve still got the article saved on my computer. It said, ‘We would like to introduce our new Spider-Man, Tom Holland.'”
Now, this is where the most Tom Holland thing ever happens. After learning that he did get the part, Tom broke his computer because he “flipped it up in the air” and it fell off his bed.
Sony / Marvel / Everett Collection
Honestly, this has extreme Peter Parker energy too.
A little while later, Tom got a call from the studio and they gave him the news personally, but of course, Tom had already been celebrating with his family.
And, even after being announced as Spider-Man, Tom was “convinced” he was going to get fired after filming Captain America: Civil War and before filming Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Sony / Marvel / Everett Collection
He said, “I was convinced they were going to fire me. I don’t know why. Civil War hadn’t come out yet, and I just didn’t hear anything from anyone. I can’t really explain it. It was awful, but they didn’t — obviously.”
Reflecting on his entire Spider-Man journey, Tom said that he has “loved every minute of it,” even if the start was a little chaotic.
Basically, I’m still absolutely obsessed with how much Tom loves this role and being part of Marvel, and I can’t wait to see him in Spider-Man 3.
You can watch and read Tom Holland and Daniel Kaluuya’s entire Variety Actors on Actors conversation here.
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