Tom Holland names Owen Cooper as ideal Spider-Man successor
Synopsis
Tom Holland has named Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper as his pick to take over as Spider-Man — and he wants to mentor the next Peter Parker the way Robert Downey Jr. once guided him. With Brand New Day arriving 31 July, Holland is already thinking about the web-slinger's future beyond his own tenure.
Key Takeaways
Tom Holland named Owen Cooper as his preferred Spider-Man successor in an interview with Esquire UK .
Cooper rose to prominence through the Netflix miniseries Adolescence , winning recognition at the BAFTA TV Awards , Golden Globes , and Primetime Emmy Awards .
Holland expressed a desire to mentor the next Spider-Man actor, mirroring the role Robert Downey Jr. played for him.
Holland acknowledged that securing a producing credit on future Marvel films is 'pretty tough to get.' Spider-Man: Brand New Day , directed by Destin Daniel Cretton , is set for release on 31 July .
Hollywood actor Tom Holland has publicly named Owen Cooper — star of Netflix's breakout miniseries Adolescence — as his preferred successor in the role of Spider-Man, ahead of the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day on 31 July. Holland made the remarks in an interview with Esquire UK, sparking fresh speculation about the future of Marvel's most beloved web-slinger.
What Holland Said
'Owen Cooper would be awesome,' Holland told Esquire UK. 'Obviously, he's super-talented and the talk of the town right now.' The endorsement comes as Cooper rides a wave of critical acclaim following his acclaimed turn in the Netflix miniseries Adolescence, which earned him recognition at the BAFTA TV Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Holland's Vision for the Next Chapter
Beyond simply naming a successor, Holland expressed a desire to remain involved in shaping the character's future — much as Robert Downey Jr. mentored him during his early MCU appearances. 'In the way that Robert Downey was such a mentor for me in my first three movies, I would love to be that person for whoever is next,' he said.
Holland has previously echoed this sentiment in an interview with Empire, noting: 'For whoever's next, whether that is a Miles Morales or a Spider-Gwen or a Spider-Woman or something like that, I would love to be a part of setting up the next chapter.' He added: 'Whatever that looks like, I don't know. But if I could do what Downey did for me, then I would be so content swinging off into the sunset.'
Holland acknowledged, however, that securing a formal producing credit on future Marvel films is 'pretty tough to get.'
Holland's Spider-Man Journey
Holland first appeared as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, marking the character's official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He subsequently starred in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) alongside Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and went on to feature in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
About Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Holland's next outing as the web-slinger, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The film stars Holland as Peter Parker alongside Zendaya as MJ, with Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, and Liza Colon-Zayas also featuring. It is scheduled for release on 31 July.
Whether Cooper ultimately dons the suit remains to be seen, but Holland's public backing is likely to keep the conversation alive well beyond the release of Brand New Day.
Point of View
Invoking Downey Jr., is deliberate: it elevates Holland's legacy and signals to Marvel that he wants a seat at the table beyond his acting contract. Whether Marvel acts on any of this is another matter entirely — casting decisions at that level are rarely driven by outgoing stars' preferences. But the public conversation Holland is steering keeps Spider-Man's future in the news cycle, which benefits everyone involved.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Tom Holland name as his preferred Spider-Man successor?
Tom Holland named Owen Cooper, star of the Netflix miniseries Adolescence, as his preferred successor in the Spider-Man role. Holland made the comment in an interview with Esquire UK, calling Cooper 'super-talented and the talk of the town right now.'
Who is Owen Cooper and why is he in the spotlight?
Owen Cooper is a young actor who gained widespread acclaim for his lead role in the Netflix miniseries Adolescence. The performance earned him awards recognition at the BAFTA TV Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Primetime Emmy Awards.
What role does Tom Holland want after leaving Spider-Man?
Holland has said he would like to mentor whoever plays Spider-Man next, drawing a parallel to how Robert Downey Jr. guided him during his first three MCU films. He has also expressed interest in a producing role, though he acknowledged that is 'pretty tough to get.'
When is Spider-Man: Brand New Day releasing?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled for release on 31 July. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, with Tom Holland reprising his role as Peter Parker alongside Zendaya as MJ.
When did Tom Holland first play Spider-Man in the MCU?
Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, marking the character's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has since appeared in seven MCU and MCU-adjacent films in the role.
