The Moment Tom Holland Found Out He’s the New Spider-Man

Tom Holland, celebrated for his iconic role as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, makes his first American talk show appearance in this episode. The conversation traces his decade-long acting career, from an early challenging role to the surprisingly unconventional way he discovered he landed the part of Peter Parker.

Holland shares that he has been acting for nearly 10 years, beginning professionally around age 14 with the movie 'The Impossible' alongside Naomi Watts. Despite the film's intense water scenes, which Watts found arduous, Holland recalls his experience fondly, comparing it to "going to a water park." He also touches on a recent personal milestone, having just purchased his first apartment in London after a two-year search, conveniently located only "5 minutes away from my mom," a move that shifted his plans from potentially relocating to LA.

The core of the episode delves into the monumental process of becoming Spider-Man. Holland reveals he was a "huge, huge fan" growing up and underwent a rigorous five-month audition process. After his final audition, he was told he'd "find out tomorrow," but the wait unexpectedly stretched for six weeks. The news ultimately broke not with a personal call, but when Marvel "just posted on their Instagram, 'Go to our website to find out who the new Spider-Man is.'"

This unconventional announcement initially led to disbelief, with his brother Harry suggesting Marvel's social media might have been "hacked." It wasn't until Holland's agents confirmed the news, followed by a call from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, that the reality fully set in. Holland humorously recounted his response to Feige: "I know, Kevin. You put it on Instagram." The episode concludes with a surprise early birthday gift from the host: an entire apartment's worth of furniture, addressing Holland's recent stress about furnishing his new London flat.

Listeners will gain an intimate perspective on a young star's entry into Hollywood, the perseverance required to land a career-defining role, and the humorous, unexpected ways life-changing news can sometimes arrive in the digital age.