When we look at Tom Holland‘s first three solo movies as Spider-Man, they each posses one thing in common – the word ‘home.’ It’s a special word, one that connotes warmth, familiarity and security. These are many qualities which Peter Parker emanates. For many lost teenage souls, his wayward journey through adolescent life felt lived-in – and his secret, crime-fighting life rippled with endurance, coolness and triumph. Peter was the come-back kid, the one we could never quite give up on, the one we could never stop rooting for. His buoyancy, charm, youthfulness and angst drew in cinema and super-hero fans alike, adding to his already growing admirers.
Fans have come to know many variations of the character on film, each actor bringing a new pattern to Spidey’s familiar webs. Tobey Maguire brought a vulnerable likability to the role, very much embodying the ‘boy next door’ trope. His sweetness with MJ, his comedic endeavours in Spider Man 3 and his unwavering desire to protect humanity won fans over, marking his turn as one for the history books.
Andrew Garfield charmed fans with his confident swagger and devilish humour. When wearing the suit, he became ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ a hero who wasn’t about to be intimidated or threatened. When he wasn’t cracking jokes, his story was darker, as he was haunted by the mysteries surrounding his parents. With Emma Stone’s MJ by his side, Andrew Garfield made for a well-rounded teenager, yet another champion for viewers to believe in.
More recently, Spider-Man has taken a star-turn via the Spider-Verse series, showcasing the gigantic web of lore that connects each version together. Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, provided fans a bass-boosted burst of life; swinging from cartoon realm to cartoon realm, Moore embodied Morales with a cheeky naivety. Yet another Spider-Man who must face their canon-event of tragedy, Morales became a symbol of endurance and tenacity.
And then, there was Tom Holland. Producers of his era have carefully orchestrated a new symphony for the character, tunes away from Maguire and Garfield. Holland’s Peter Parker has been a more youthful turn, pinpointing him in the crux of puberty. Exacerbated by his fatherly relationship with Tony Stark, Tom Holland brought an innocence that needed to be protected – and, as we have seen recently, hasn’t been. His arc from youthful optimism to hardened resilience has been devastating for fans – but has given us all the more cause to root for his come-back.
Holland went from young fan, who owned thirty Spider-Man costumes and Spider-Man bed sheet covers, to becoming the hero we all know and love. And, ahead of the much-anticipated release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we are going to recap his time on screen, from 2016 to 2026. A decade of red and blue joviality and heartbreak.
This is Tom Holland’s legacy as Spider-Man, so far…:
Tom Holland’s journey to casting:
It seemed that, in some way, Peter Parker was a role always destined for Holland. After beginning his performance career at age nine, he was scouted from a hip-hop school to star on stage. His career would sprout from there, as he would go onto provide a voice role for Arrietty (2011) and make his live-action debut in The Impossible (2012). His repertoire would only grow with splendour, after making a well-received appearance in In The Heart of the Sea (2015), where he co-starred with Chris Hemsworth. But, that wasn’t the only development in Holland’s career that year. 2015 was the year Spider-Man was to be re-born.
After being pit against 1,500 teenagers worldwide, Holland secured the role that would change his career forever. He couldn’t have been more perfect, either, with Stan Lee describing that he was the “exact age and height” of Peter, when he first envisioned the character. His impressive career won over Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal, and the Russo Brothers were tantalised by his prior dance and gymnastics background.
2016 – Captain America: Civil War
Civil War marked Holland’s debut in the role. Confirmed to appear in the film in July 2015, Holland affirmed that this was only the beginning, with three solo movies already confirmed. Although Peter’s role in the film’s events were small, he was a part of something much greater.
Following the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), The Avengers are torn apart by the impending passing of the Sokovia Accords – the establishment of a UN panel that would oversee and control the group. Tony and Steve Rogers‘ testy friendship fractures under the weight of this, with Tony supporting the passing and Steve having more faith in his own judgment. All the while, Helmut Zemo’s brainwashing of Bucky Barnes adds further fuel to the fire. Divided and afraid, Tony and Steve form two factions and battle it out – with Peter appearing on Tony’s side.
Holland swung into the film’s latter stages and marked a new dawn for the MCU‘s beloved character. Whilst brimming with inexperience, explaining to Tony that he doesn’t “even have a driver’s license,” let alone a passport, he disarmed audiences with his stuttering charm. However, whilst he cannot stop chatting to his supposed enemies, Parker fights with dexterity and barrels of strength. It’s a duality that mightily impressed audiences, who were used to the more grounded nature of Spider-Men previous. His Peter had little personal or political involvement in Civil War, making his chaotic appearance all the more winning. And, Parker’s inner turmoil over whether he identifies with the fighting heroes around him perfectly sums up his adolescent age.
Instantly relatable and instantly believable, Tom Holland was the ingénue. Many believed he was ripped right from the pages of his comic-book origins, that he wore the red and blue colours like skin. But, one thing stood clear, as the dust settled after the dusk of Civil War – Holland was the right kid for Peter Parker, and the right kind of hero for Spider-Man.
2017 – Spider-Man: Homecoming
Tom Holland broke records with his solo debut Spider-Man movie – and that’s not a figure of speech. At just age twenty, he entered into the Guinness Book of World Records, as the youngest actor to play a title role in the MCU. Fans were ready for a newcomer to take the reins and remind them just why they fell in love with their friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.
Set eight years after the events of Civil War, Homecoming sees Peter itching to join The Avengers. After being talked off the ledge by Tony, Peter decides he will pursue crime privately. Joined by his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), Peter comes to blows with Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), a salvage company-owner who Tony wronged. Toomes has been using scavenged Chitauri technology (from the Battle of New York in 2012), and has created the persona known as Vulture. After Peter makes a startling discovery about Adrian Toomes’ identity, the fight becomes even more complex – and more personal.
The makers behind Homecoming wanted Holland’s Spider-Man to be the first with a focus on “dealing with everyday problems… as well as trying to save the city.” And they succeeded with undeniable prowess. Grossing over $880.9 million worldwide, Holland’s debut swept from country to country, to steal the hearts of his fans. From his puppy-love crush on Liz (Laura Harrier), to his ambition to join the big leagues, his innocence returned audiences to a more youthful Peter Parker. It established the altruistic mind that leads him, as well as his ever-burning desire to inspire hope and positivity.
Homecoming solidified Holland not as a shooting star but a rocket, ever-flying closer to the wondrous frivolities of the planets and stars. The lighter tone and barrels of optimism suited him, and suited audiences and critics alike. And, with troubling times for The Avenger’s ahead, it was all the more necessary for the fight.
2018 and 2019 – Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame
2018 and 2019 blew shockwaves around the foundations of the MCU as we knew it. Fans scrambled to get their early tickets to the biggest superhero spectacle to date, anticipating heavy losses and fearsome battles. Ask anyone who went to the opening nights of either film, and they will recall the tears and shock and desperation for some kind of closure. And Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was a key feature in this.
Infinity War was the year-long cliffhanger that dangled fans over a pit of uncertainty and fear. Opening with the formidable Thanos attaining the first two Infinity Stones, the threat to the multiverse was tangible. After failing to kill him, the Avengers are forced to watch as half of life on Earth disappeared. This included characters such as Bucky, Groot, Wanda – and Peter Parker.
Endgame traversed a time-bending narrative; after Captain Marvel saved Tony and Nebula, the remaining Avengers regroup and plan to reverse Thanos’ actions. Using the Quantum Realm, they return to different periods to regain the stones, ending in a fight for the ages. Each and every lost character, including Peter, is summoned by Dr Strange to conquer Thanos once and for all. The portal-hopping, time-bending, energy-fused battle cemented Endgame as one of the most pivotal super-hero movies of the genre.
The couplet of films were make-or-break for Peter, whose own life and connections are tested beyond belief. Never before had he found himself in a battle like this, where not just the city streets are at stake – and for a moment, Peter Parker fans believed he would be lost forever.
In a scene which epitomised Peter’s youth and innocence, his death scene became one of the most memorable in recent years. Falling to Tony’s knees, the simple words “I don’t feel so good,” became a source of worldwide heartbreak for so many. And, after returning with his comrades in Endgame, he was dealt yet another blow after losing his father figure, Tony Stark, for good.
The Russos knew that the way to the hearts of their younger fans was to test their beloved teenage superhero – to isolate him from first the world, and then his greatest supporter. We were left, for a whole year, without Spider-Man. Which made his come-back in 2019 all the more special.
2019 – Spider-Man: Far From Home
The year-long blackout from Peter Parker sent the world into a frenzy – as evidenced by the release of Far From Home. It scored a tremendous box office pull of $1.133 billion worldwide, making it both the first Spider-Man film to pass a billion – and one of the highest grossing films of all time. The world needed Spider-Man back – and he heard our call once more.
The story hinges on Peter’s high-school trip across Europe, which coincides with a series of strange attacks by Elementals. They journey to Venice, Prague, Berlin and London – all whilst the enigmatic Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) saves each city. Struggling with the loss of Tony, Peter refuses to get in contact with Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), who instead diverts the school trip to talk to him. After finally meeting Fury, he is given Tony’s old glasses and meets new recruit Quentin Beck. However, a shocking discovery about Beck’s identity means Peter is forced into the fight to protect those he loves.
Far From Home was exactly as the title describes – Peter was both physically far from New York, but equally distanced by his blind-siding loss. Being dragged back into the fight, when he wishes to mourn, enjoy the trip and confess his love to MJ, means our favourite character trait of his comes into play – resilience. However, Mysterio is a worthy adversary to Peter, who sickeningly mocks him for the loss of Tony Stark. It hurts us to see Spidey down, with every punch hitting him seeming to hit us too. But, we know that by believing in him, he will always get back up again.
Holland received critical acclaim for his portrayal, lauded for being incredibly realistic and comedic. Remarked to be “one of the MCU’s most endearing figures” by Empire, it appeared that Holland’s return to Spider-Man was instrumental to the studio’s success. However, they were about to put him through the ringer once more, as a deadly end-credit revealed that his identity had been exposed to the world…
2021 – Spider Man: No Way Home
No Way Home was initially surrounded by a web of secrecy – one which didn’t take long for fans to untangle. Rumours flew about the return of legends and the revival of iconic battles; and whilst people were excited for it, no one was quite ready for it. Cinemas were packed with screaming fans, pointing at the screen as their favourite Spideys appeared on screen. But, for Holland’s Spider-Man, this was a much more somber affair.
Following on immediately from the events of Far From Home, the film begins with the arrest of Peter, Ned, MJ and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) – and the three friends have their MIT applications rejected. Desperate for all to be righted, Peter meets Dr Strange, and asks for a spell to make everyone forget he is Spider-Man. However, the spell becomes corrupted by Peter’s many alterations, leading to ruptures in the Multiverse. Suddenly, Peter is confronted by villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), whom Strange asks to be round up. After Peter’s grip on the situation spirals out of control, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Men appear, to form a mighty trio. But, by the end of the film, Peter makes the ultimate sacrifice – to protect the Multiverse, he must be forgotten by all around him.
It is impossible to bottle the atmosphere of No Way Home’s opening night viewings into words – but it was earth-shattering. It was the moment that Holland truly came into his own, where he had to pit Peter’s ever-growing optimism against a shroud of darkness. It tested his character beyond belief, and has put him in a position he has never been in before. He takes repeated hits from Green Goblin, loses Aunt May and is forced to reckon with yet more layers of grief and torment. The character we view as a friend, a place of comfort, a little brother, is going through something unimaginable.
Holland proved that his Spider-Man was necessary to cinemas; he proved to himself, to us all, that beacons of hope can exist in the darkest of times. By the end of No Way Home, we realise that Peter’s days of childish innocence are over – and that there is no going back. And, in 2026, we will see him take to the screen once more – but as a Spider-Man we haven’t seen the likes of before.
2026 – Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Brand New Day‘s upcoming release at the end of July will see Peter in a place he’s never been before. With the film’s producers wanting Holland’s Spider-Man to be a “proper Spider-Man” for the first time, we can be sure to see him fighting street-level crime without a support network. In one of the trailer’s, we can hear a voice-over from Peter, where he says “sometimes Spider-Man has to do the hard thing, even if it breaks Peter’s heart.” It is clear that, for the first time, there will be a true dividing line between the cold, hard mask and the boy that hides underneath it.
When discussing the film at CinemaCon in April 2026, Holland mentioned that this will be “the most emotional Spider-Man and, in some ways, the most grown up.” So, it’s clear that we will see Peter face yet another marathon, full of spiky hurdles and unavoidable traps. Fans have been left on yet another year-long cliffhanger, and so this really is crunch-time for Holland’s Parker. But, just as we have seen time and time again, we can only expect that Brand New Day will see Peter recover and get back up – and show us just who the boy who could really is.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day was written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. The film stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Trammel Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo.
Sony Pictures presents Spider-Man: Brand New Day in UK and Irish cinemas from July 29, 2026.
