When Robert Downey Jr. hit the stage at Comic-Con over the summer to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom, everyone was surprised. Well, except for Marvel head Kevin Feige. And, as it turns out, Tom Holland, who apparently finally learned how to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Marvel’s secrets. According to Holland, he also knew about Downry Jr.’s Doctor Doom casting, and he did a very good job of not spoiling the news for the rest of us.
When Marvel’s future plans for Kang fell apart, it was only a matter of time before either that character was recast or the IP would change course. Marvel opted for the latter, which almost anyone could have predicted. What couldn’t have been predicted was the casting of none other than Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU’s new big bad, Doctor Doom.
During an appearance on the Rich Roll podcast, Holland was asked about Downey Jr.’s return, and what it could mean for Spider-Man. True to form, Holland was a little less tight-lipped than other sworn-to-secrecy MCU stars. Or, in Holland’s words:
Tom: That was a tough secret to sit on because I have a reputation for ruining things.
Rich: Yeah, I heard that you’re a little loose-lipped around MCU secrets.
Tom: A little loose-lipped, yeah.
Tom Holland Finally Kept a Marvel Secret
It’s been confirmed that more solo Spidey adventures are on the way, starting with Spider-Man 4. Furthermore, Holland is expected to appear in more crossover films, including Avengers: Doomsday. We’re excited to see how the two characters interact when put face-to-face. After all, the last time Holland’s Spidey saw Downey Jr.’s face, he was Iron Man – and he was dying.
Either way, it’s nice to still have Holland as such an integral part of the MCU. He’s a likable performer, and he’s become a fan-favorite Spider-Man, which is no small compliment considering that plenty of fans grew up with the Tobey Maguire movies, and Andrew Garfield’s take on the character was the best part of his two solo movies. That and his chemistry with Emma Stone.
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Holland still has his eyes on the ball when it comes to the franchise, too. He’s intent on delivering not just more Spider-Man movies, but good Spider-Man movies that focus on character as much, if not more so, than action. When asked whether the studio wants more Spidey movies:
“Oh yeah, yeah they do, and I want to make another one, I want to make many more, but I want to do it for the right reasons, and now, like I said to you earlier, sometimes I miss the day when getting the job was the win. I am navigating and figuring out what having that kind of power means and that responsibility, and I’m figuring it out and I’m speaking to people and asking questions, and you know, I’ve been speaking to Downey a lot especially about him making his return, which is super exciting.”
It’s easy to forget that Holland was only 19 when he was cast as the friendly neighborhood web-slinger. And, of course, Downey Jr.’s Iron Man was right by his side the first few times. Specifically, in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Their bond as performers has grown alongside their characters’ on-screen bond. That’s why Spidey’s interaction with Doom stands as one of the most intriguing aspects of Doomsday. See below for Holland’s interview on the Rich Roll podcast.