Tom Holland has opened up about a difficult decision that became a roadblock for Marvel’s plans for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The actor revealed he called up Sony Pictures executives himself and asked whether they could delay the production schedule of the film so that he could star in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey. Holland is set to reprise his Peter Parker aka the web-slinging superhero in Brand New Day. Meanwhile, 2026 is a crucial year for the 30-year-old actor given he is also set to end the world of Nolan with the iconic director’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic.
That ‘awkward conversation’ with Nolan
Holland revealed the two projects were supposed to go into production at the same time, which made things a bit awkward for him. When offered him the role of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, in his ambitious project, the actor knew he was in for an awkward conversation with Sony.
Holland told GQ Magazine, “So I said to Chris, like, ‘Look, I want to do this movie, but if I’m going to do it, I’m going to have to call Sony and have a very uncomfortable conversation’.”
Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway in The Odyssey
Sony bought time for Brand New Day
As luck would have it for the actor, Sony agreed to change the schedule. Holland said the studio’s decision was rooted in Nolan’s reputation for efficient productions. “One of the things that made Sony happy to move is that Chris has this reputation of, ‘This movie isn’t going to go five months over and we’re not actually going to lose Tom for two years,'” Holland said. The executives were sure the filmmaker would deliver on time and not mess up his future commitments in a big way, he said.
And in the end, turned out to be a good decision too. The delay allowed for more time for development and for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton to get involved.
Tom Holland with Destin Daniel Cretton on Spider-Man: Brand New Day set
Extra months became a boon
“The Odyssey almost saved Spider-Man because we wouldn’t have had Destin,” Holland said, reminiscing on the turn of events. The extra months, he said, gave the creative team a chance to tighten the film’s overall direction and hone the screenplay.
“We wouldn’t have had the six month period to work with Destin to develop the script to get it to where it is now,” Holland said. “And I think we’ve made the best version of any Spider-Man movie that will be made.”
Tom Holland
Nolan’s film changed Tom Hollan’s approach
Working with Nolan also had a lasting effect on Holland’s approach to acting and collaboration. Seeing how well the director prepared encouraged him to push for a more organised creative process on the Marvel sequel.
Holland said he insisted on knowing the purpose of the film before production began. He wanted the team to define the story, not just the franchise’s popularity. “We’re not going to come to set and figure it out,” Holland said.
Tom Holland’s 2026
Both films are now on their way to major summer releases. The Odyssey arrives in cinemas July 17, followed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.
The back-to-back premieres are more than two blockbuster projects for Holland. “I feel like it is the first page of the next chapter of my life,” he said and now sees his future more clearly both personally and professionally.