Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Tom Holland is set to play Spider-Man in the latest flick of the popular comic book icon, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures announced Tuesday (Wednesday PHT).
Holland, a 19-year-old British actor, previously starred opposite Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in the 2012 tsunami drama “The Impossible.”
“Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world,” said Amy Pascal, former co-chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment, in a statement released through Marvel.
Pascal is co-producing the new film with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
“With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Pascal added.
Jon Watts, director of the Sundance entry Cop Car, has been tapped to handle the superhero movie.
“As with James Gunn, Joss Whedon, and the Russo brothers, we love finding new and exciting voices to bring these characters to life. We spent a lot of time with Jon and find his take and work inspiring,” Feige said.
Holland is expected to make his first appearance as the web-slinger in Captain America: Civil War, to properly introduce the hero into the Marvel cinematic universe. It is scheduled for release next year.
The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in Hollywood, earning over $4 billion worldwide.
A standalone film will hit theaters on July 28, 2017.
The actor seems to be a natural fit for the role. A few days before the announcement, Holland posted a few Instagram videos showing off his acrobatic skills.
