Tom Holland's Journey to Becoming Spider-Man: A Flip of Fate

Tom Holland had some tough competition when he auditioned for the iconic role of Spider-Man back in 2015. Marvel Studios scoured the globe, auditioning over 1,500 actors, including future Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet, before landing on Holland.

But Holland didn’t just rely on his acting skills. With a strong background in dance and acrobatics, including a leading role in the West End production of Billy Elliot, Holland used his athleticism to stand out. His audition tape featured a jaw-dropping backflip before he even said a word. Director Jon Watts recalls how Holland’s charm, youthfulness, and physicality made him the perfect fit. "It was like watching a video of the real Peter Parker," he shared.

The impressive backflip didn’t just impress Watts; Avengers: Endgame director Anthony Russo also saw Holland’s star quality. "He had that charisma, the confidence, the energy," Russo said. Holland’s take on Spider-Man would go on to become one of the most successful portrayals of the character, appearing in three of the ten highest-grossing films of all time.

However, at 28, Holland admits his body doesn't bounce back from physical stunts as it used to. Recalling a time he did a backflip for his cousin, Holland said, "I pulled every muscle in my stomach. For weeks, I couldn’t laugh because my stomach was so sore."

While his Spider-Man days might involve fewer flips, Holland’s journey from acrobat to superhero is nothing short of impressive.