Theatre News

Former West End Billy lands Hollywood Spider-Man role

From a ballet dancing Geordie to a web spinning superhero, Tom Holland will take over from Andrew Garfield

Ben Hewis
London London's West End
Tom Holland in Billy Elliot
Tom Holland in Billy Elliot

Marvel and Sony have confirmed that 19-year-old Tom Holland, who played the title role in Billy Elliot – The Musical from 2008 to 2010, will take over from Andrew Garfield for the new Spider-Man film, which is due out in July 2017.

Holland, who made his big screen debut in The Impossible alongside Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, also appeared in the recent TV adaptation of Wolf Hall as Gregory Cromwell.

In a statement, Marvel said: "The studios and producers were impressed by Holland's performances in The Impossible, Wolf Hall, and the upcoming In the Heart of the Sea… For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom's screen tests were special."

Tom is expected to make his Spidey debut with an appearance in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War with standalone Spider-Man films to follow.