How a Drunk Tom Holland Saved Spider-Man in the MCU
Making the press tour rounds promoting Spider-Man: No Way Home, the film star told one of the more unique stories you’ll ever hear; the story of how a drunk Tom Holland saved Spider-Man in the MCU.
since 2016, Tom Hollands Peter Parker has been a mainstay in one of the biggest film franchises in the history of the MCU.
Photo: Looper
With a youthful take on one of comics’ most iconic characters, Holland gave Marvel fans a Spider-Man that felt completely new compared to the character’s previous film adaptations.
He quickly became a fan favorite and represented the bright future of Marvel Studios’ massive interconnected film universe.
Source: Marvel Studios
Then- just like that- it all nearly ended.
That was, of course, until the unthinkable happened; a drunk Tom Holland saved Spider-Man in the MCU.
Speaking on Good Morning America with George Stephanopoulos, Holland retold the now-infamous story and gave the surprising individual who encouraged him to make it happen.
Photo: Michael Muller/CNET
Following Spider-Man: Far From Home, and despite a fruitful relationship between Marvel and Sony and their collaborative efforts in bringing a Sony-owned character to the Marvel universe; things took a sort of turn.
“It felt like my parents were splitting up, and I was the kid in the middle of it,” Holland told GMA about the tumultuous time behind the scenes.
Tom Holland, Kevin Feige Address Spider-Man’s Exit From the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures
Kevin Feige and Tom Holland on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Photo: Sony Pictures
The actor recalls being told that he was no longer going to be in the MCU, and returning to London upon hearing the news; stating, “obviously I was heartbroken.”
That was when Bob Iger, who was the Disney CEO at the time, told Holland that he wanted to call him; which was something the young actor was certainly going to oblige him; stating that he told the executive to call “whenever is best for you.”
Photo: Getty Images
However, the time was in fact best for him, maybe wasn’t best for Holland.
“Two or three days went by and he didn’t call, so I was kind of life, ‘I can do what I want now. I can go back to my life,'” Holland continued, “So I went to the pub, and I was sad. I had a few drinks. And then I got a 310 number calling me.”
That 310 number was, in fact, Bob Iger…
Source: Marvel Studios
Holland, who hesitated to answer the call, recalled his father of all people encouraging him to pick up the phone and talk with the executive, ” and my dad was like, ‘You’ve got this!'”
What began as a nerve-wracking reality, ended as perhaps the best thing that could’ve happened to the character.
Holland stated, “I spoke to him on the phone, and I basically just expressed my passion for the character. I expressed my beliefs in the value of my character in the MCU, and he listened and called up Tom Rothman.”
The conversation pushed Iger to do all that he could to make a deal a reality with Sony CEO Tom Rothman, something that came to a head quickly after.
The story of how a drunk Tom Holland saved Spider-Man in the MCU is one for the ages, but the vital part is how Holland concluded the story; relieved in stating
“They made a new deal, and, and I’m back.”
