Tom Holland thinks that Owen Cooper, or a fresh face, should be the next Spider-Man.
The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star did a sprawling interview with Esquire, where he opened up about his future of walking away from the beloved superhero role. Holland, unlike his Spidey predecessors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, is gearing up for the release of his fourth Spider-Man film; Maguire starred in the first three original movies for Sony, while Garfield only led two Spider-Man films.
Holland told the outlet he’d love to stay involved in the franchise as a producer, however it’s “pretty tough to get a producing credit on future movies.” Still, he said he’d love to offer a level of mentorship that Robert Downey Jr. offered him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“In the way that Robert Downey was such a mentor for me in my first three movies, I would love to be that person for whoever is next,” he explained, adding that Cooper could be a potential suitor to step into the role.
“Owen Cooper would be awesome,” Holland said. “Obviously, he’s super-talented and the talk of the town right now,” while the outlet also noted the actor said the opportunity could be a “great springboard” for a fresh face.
Holland’s choice doesn’t come out of nowhere, as Cooper previously expressed interest in portraying the web-slinger. He told i-D magazine in March 2025, “I want to play Spider-Man.”
Cooper skyrocketed into the zeitgeist thanks to his starring turn in Adolescence. His performance in the television show broke several awards records, as he became the youngest-ever male Emmy winner in any acting category at the 2025 Emmys; the youngest person to win the best supporting actor in a TV series award at the 2026 Golden Globes; and the youngest-ever Actor Awards winner. He swept all of the major awards he was nominated for during Adolescence‘s run, and was 14 years old when the series was filmed.
Elsewhere in his Esquire interview, The Odyssey actor finally confirmed he and Zendaya secretly tied the knot.
When asked about fake AI photos of a wedding between them in Lake Como, Italy, Holland said his grandmother was worried she hadn’t been invited to their nuptials. The actor was asked a follow-up question, that of if any of his other family members or friends were fooled by the photos, to which Holland responded, “No, because they were all there.”
