Spider-Man fans have a long wait ahead of them until the next installment of Jon Watt’s reboot series — with Spider-Man 4tentatively expected to start filming sometime in 2025 — but Tom Holland is already looking ahead at a possible future for the MCU’s favorite web-slinging superhero. In a recent interview, Holland revealed that he wants Miles Morales to take up the Spider-Man mantle next — and he has a few ideas about how to pull it off.
It’s unclear what direction Spider-Man 4 will take — although Holland has unabashedly shared his excitement for the script — but given the details that have been released so far, it’s unlikely that Spider-Man 4 will be the film to hand over Holland’s legacy to a new iteration of Spider-Man. Still, Holland seems to anticipate relinquishing the iconic suit sooner rather than later. Speaking with Rich Roll, Holland confessed that he wanted comic book character and Spider-Verse star Miles Morales to receive the responsibilities of Spider-Man, and added that he’d like to mentor the actor playing Miles in the same way that MCU legend Robert Downey Jr. helped him.
During the interview, Holland revealed that Downey Jr. was an advocate for him on the set of Captain America: Civil War, where Holland’s Spider-Man first appeared. Many of Spider-Man’s lines were going to be cut from the movie, but Downey Jr. reportedly fought for the Russo Brothers to have them filmed. “If I would be lucky enough to somehow bring Miles Morales into my Spider-Man universe and into the MCU,” Holland stated, “I’d love to do for a young kid what [Robert] Downey Jr. did for me.” It’s a heartwarming sentiment, especially given how cutthroat the entertainment industry can be towards up-and-coming actors.
Will Miles Morales Truly Become the Next Spider-Man?
Holland’s dream to pass on the Spider-Man legacy doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the MCU, but he does seem determined to give up the suit soon. Previously, Holland had issued himself a “Spider-Man deadline,” stating, “If I am 30 and still playing Spider-Man and I haven’t passed on the baton to a Miles Morales or a Spider-Woman or something more diverse, then I will have done something wrong in the sense of duties that I have to the character.”
Although Holland has been Spider-Man for almost a decade — a considerable amount of time to play the same character — his desire to hand down the role is about more than feeling “washed-up.” Miles Morales is an Afro-Latino teenager whose story partially revolves around the idea that anyone can wear the Spider-Man mask, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity — a message that is particularly relevant in today’s political climate.
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The character of Miles Morales has also seen incredible success in the Spider-Verse franchise. By adding a Miles Morales of their own to the MCU, Marvel may face some accusations of hopping on the bandwagon, but the overall reception is likely to be incredibly positive. Keeping Tom Holland as a mentor for a new Spider-Man could also ensure that fans wouldn’t feel the sting of his absence too powerfully, especially since Holland himself is enthusiastic about sticking around.