Tom Holland Has a New Spider-Man Successor in Mind

Earlier this June, Tom Holland hinted that he might be ready to step away from his role as Spider-Man, a character he’s portrayed since 2015’s Captain America: Civil War. In a chat, he expressed his desire to help shape the next chapter of the franchise, saying, “I would love to be a part of setting up the next chapter. Whatever that looks like, I don’t know. But if I could do what [Robert] Downey [Jr.] did for me, then I would be so content swinging off into the sunset.”

In a recent interview, Holland shared that he already has a successor in mind for the iconic red-and-blue suit: Owen Cooper. “Owen Cooper would be awesome,” he remarked, praising the young actor’s talent and current buzz in the industry.

Cooper, known for his role in last year’s Netflix thriller Adolescence, where he played a preteen accused of murder, has garnered significant acclaim, including a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe nomination. He made his film debut in Wuthering Heights earlier this year and is set to appear in the upcoming Cry to Heaven in 2027.

Like Holland, Cooper hails from England. If Holland were to pass the torch to Cooper, he would become the third English actor to portray Peter Parker, following Holland and Andrew Garfield from Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man series. It seems the British are making their mark in the realm of American superhero films.

During the same interview, Holland reiterated his wish to mentor the next Spider-Man, much like Downey Jr. did for him. This mentorship could lead to some interesting multiverse scenarios if both Holland and a new actor were to portray Peter Parker simultaneously.

Meanwhile, many fans are eager to see Miles Morales make his debut in the MCU. If that were to happen, Holland could channel his inner Jake Johnson and guide a young Morales. However, due to the complex licensing agreements between Disney and Sony, the inclusion of Morales, Spider-Gwen, or any other Spider-Hero in the MCU remains uncertain.

For now, Holland continues his journey as Spider-Man, with his next appearance set for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hitting theaters on July 31. He has also mentioned that he’s been “actively sifting” through Marvel fans’ posts, which raises some eyebrows about what that might entail.