Marvel Studios' Captain America: Civil War introduced Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Tom Holland in the coveted role. While Marvel Studios and Sony had plans to feature the wall-crawler in additional films, Holland has now revealed that he believed his tenure with the MCU was over after his appearance in the Captain America sequel.
After Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 disappointed at the box office, the company reached a landmark agreement with Marvel Studios to co-produce new Spider-Man films that would allow the wall-crawler to be integrated into the MCU, starting with Captain America: Civil War. A subsequent worldwide wide search for an actor to portray the new Spider-Man concluded with Holland landing the role after successful auditions with both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, besting a list of potential contenders that reportedly included Asa Butterfield and Charlie Rowe.
During a conversation with Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya for Variety's Actors on Actors series, Tom Holland revealed that he found out he was chosen to play Spider-Man through the press and his brother initially believed the announcement might be the false result of Sony being hacked. Fortunately, the studio contacted Holland to confirm the casting news, but another case of miscommunication would later lead to the young star believing he was being let go before production on Marvel Studios' first standalone Spider-Man film began. "From the moment of shooting 'Civil War' to 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' I was convinced they were going to fire me," Holland said. "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. It's been crazy, mate. I've loved every minute of it."
Of course, Holland would reprise the role in Spider-Man: Homecoming and its sequel, Far From Home, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Production on Holland's untitled third Spider-Man film is currently underway in Atlanta with an ensemble cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus, and Jamie Foxx as Electro. The project nearly moved forward without Marvel Studios when Sony and Disney were unable to reach a new deal to continue co-producing new Spider-Man films, though an agreement between both parties was eventually settled with some help from a disheartened Holland.
The inclusion of characters from previous Spider-Man films in Holland's third standalone outing as the wall-crawler has led to speculation that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will also return as their respective versions of the character. However, Sony has only responded to the speculation by noting that such casting rumors have not been confirmed.
How characters from earlier films will appear in Marvel Studios' Spider-Man 3 remains unclear and subject to speculation, but Doctor Strange's involvement likely provides some clues. After all, the title of the sorcerer's second standalone film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, indicates alternate worlds and realities will factor into Phase 4 of the MCU.
Marvel Studios' Spider-Man 3 is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 17, 2021.
Source: Variety