Tom Holland Backs Owen Cooper as Next Spider-Man Ahead of July 31 Release

Q: As his new film nears, why is Tom Holland already naming his potential successor for the role of Spider-Man?

Tom Holland is naming a possible future Spider-Man now because he is already thinking beyond his own run and wants to help shape the character’s next era, not because he is immediately leaving the role. As promotion builds for *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, Holland has said he would like to mentor the next actor who plays a Spider-Man character, much as Robert Downey Jr. guided him in his early Marvel years. In interviews, he has framed the conversation around legacy and continuity, saying he wants to be involved with whoever comes next, whether that is another Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, or another “Spider-Person.” His mention of Owen Cooper fits that idea. Holland praised Cooper as a standout young actor and noted that Cooper has the talent and momentum to carry a major role. The suggestion appears less like a formal succession plan and more like Holland publicly identifying someone he believes could handle the part. At the same time, Holland is still very much in the role. He is returning as Peter Parker in *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, due July 31, 2026. His comments suggest he sees his future with Spider-Man expanding from star to elder statesman of the franchise, potentially with behind-the-scenes input if Marvel and Sony allow it. In short, he is talking about a successor now because he wants to influence the handoff early and remain part of Spider-Man’s future even after his own lead run ends.

Q: With Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo joining the cast, is Spider-Man secretly assembling a new team in 'Brand New Day'?

No. Based on what has been reported, *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* is not shaping up as a secret team-up movie for Peter Parker. Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo are both expected to appear, with Bernthal reprising Frank Castle/Punisher and Ruffalo returning as Bruce Banner/Hulk. But the available reporting points in a different direction: Hulk appears to be in conflict with Spider-Man rather than joining him, with promotional material suggesting a Spider-Man-versus-Hulk clash. Punisher’s role also looks more like that of an independent New York vigilante than a recruited ally. What the cast additions do suggest is a broader, more crowded street-level and superpowered world around Peter Parker. Reports describe Peter operating in a world where no one remembers him after *No Way Home*, while facing a major unseen threat and multiple dangerous figures. That has fueled more speculation about a villain-heavy setup, possibly even a larger criminal alliance, than about Spider-Man building a new hero team. Tom Holland’s own recent comments also point more to the long-term future of the Spider-Man mantle than to an immediate on-screen team. He has spoken about mentoring whoever eventually succeeds him, whether that is another Peter Parker or a different Spider-Person, but that is separate from the plot of *Brand New Day*. So, for now, Bernthal and Ruffalo’s involvement looks like world-building and conflict, not evidence that Spider-Man is quietly assembling a new squad.

Q: How will a rewritten scene by the 'Challengers' writer impact Peter and MJ's dynamic in the upcoming Spider-Man film?

It is likely to make Peter and MJ’s relationship feel more emotionally precise and central to *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*. Tom Holland has said he and Zendaya felt one scene was not working, raised it with director Destin Daniel Cretton, and then rewrote it with Justin Kuritzkes, the *Challengers* writer. Holland’s description that the new version “sings in the movie” suggests the change was not minor, but a meaningful improvement to a key character moment. That matters because the film picks up after *No Way Home*, where Peter is living in a world in which MJ no longer remembers him. Any major Peter-MJ scene now has to carry unusual dramatic weight: it must show their past bond, the pain of that lost connection, and the possibility of a new version of their relationship. Kuritzkes is known for sharp, emotionally layered dialogue and complicated interpersonal dynamics, so his rewrite is expected to give that interaction more tension, nuance and authenticity. The fact that Holland and Zendaya themselves pushed for the rewrite is also significant. It indicates the scene was shaped by the actors most closely tied to the relationship, likely making Peter and MJ’s dynamic feel more natural and better aligned with how the characters have evolved across the films. In practical terms, the rewrite will probably deepen the sense of longing, awkwardness and unresolved intimacy between them, turning a routine exchange into one of the film’s defining emotional beats.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jun 17

Owen Cooper would be “awesome” as Spider-Man, Tom Holland said in a new interview, naming the Adolescence breakout as a possible successor once his own run as Peter Parker ends.
Holland tied that idea to the franchise’s next phase, saying he wants to help shape the character’s future after he is done, even if securing a producing credit on later films is difficult.
Robert Downey Jr.’s mentorship on Holland’s first three Spider-Man films remains his model, and Holland said he would like to play a similar role for whoever follows him.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — Holland’s fourth standalone MCU Spider-Man film — is set for release on July 31, 2026, with Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas also confirmed.