Tom Holland (“The Impossible”) will be Marvel and Sony’s new Spider-Man, and “Cop Car” helmer Jon Watts will direct Sony’s stand-alone film featuring the webslinger, it was announced Tuesday.
As TheWrap exclusively reported, Holland had been on a shortlist with Nat Wolff, Asa Butterfield, Timothee Chalamet and Liam James, among others.
In recent weeks, Holland’s name remained in the mix even as others fell in and out of conversation surrounding the role.
The new “Spider-Man” movie has been shrouded in secrecy, though the character will first make his appearance in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, most likely “Captain America: Civil War,” which is now filming.
“It’s a big day here at Sony,” said Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group Chairman, in a statement. “Kevin, Amy and their teams have done an incredible job. The Marvel process is very thorough, and that’s why their results are so outstanding. I’m confident Spider-Man will be no exception. I’ve worked with a number of up-and-coming directors who have gone on to be superstars and believe that Jon is just such an outstanding talent. For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom’s screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start.”
Holland is most known for his role in “The Impossible” opposite Naomi Watts, and he next appears in Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea” opposite Chris Hemsworth.
The new standalone “Spider-Man” movie is slated to swing into theaters on July 28, 2017.
Holland is represented by WME and Curtis Brown in the UK. Watts is repped by CAA and attorney Greg Slewett of Bloom Hergott.