Tom Holland is already thinking about what comes after Spider-Man.
That may come as a surprise to Marvel fans. After all, the actor is about to return to theaters in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the first solo Spider-Man film since Spider-Man: No Way Home became one of the biggest box office hits of the decade.
The upcoming movie marks a new phase for Peter Parker. At the end of No Way Home, the young hero chose to sacrifice his personal relationships after Doctor Strange erased the world's memory of his identity.
Marvel Studios has positioned Brand New Day as a fresh start. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is expected to focus on a more grounded version of Spider-Man, moving away from multiversal chaos and back toward life on the streets of New York City.
That new beginning has naturally sparked questions about the character's long-term future.
Holland first joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War (2016), becoming the first live-action Spider-Man fully integrated into the MCU. His version of Peter Parker quickly became one of the franchise's most popular characters.
Across multiple appearances, the actor shared the screen with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, and many of Marvel's biggest heroes.
His Spider-Man story has also survived challenges outside the films themselves.
In 2019, negotiations between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures temporarily broke down, leading to widespread concerns that Spider-Man could be removed from the MCU. The studios ultimately reached a new agreement and Holland's run continued.
Now, with another Spider-Man film on the horizon, the actor is beginning to discuss how that journey might eventually end.
Holland Wants To Help Launch Spider-Man's Successor
Speaking to Empire, Holland revealed that he hopes his departure from the role will involve introducing the next generation of Spider-Man characters.
“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 said.
The comment is likely to fuel speculation among Marvel fans, particularly as Miles Morales remains one of the most requested characters yet to appear in the live-action MCU.
Spider-Gwen and Spider-Woman have also been the subject of frequent fan casting discussions, though Marvel has not announced plans for any of the characters to join Holland's corner of the franchise.
Holland's goal is to make sure the next hero gets a proper introduction, accompanied by a mentor.
“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.”
The comparison is a significant one.
Downey's Tony Stark played a major role in introducing Holland's Peter Parker to audiences. Their mentor-student relationship became one of the defining storylines of the Infinity Saga.
Spider-Man's Future Appears Secure
Holland's remarks may sound like the beginning of a farewell, but they also suggest there is still plenty of Spider-Man left to come.
Any transition to a new Spider-character would likely require several more appearances from Holland before Marvel could fully pass the torch.
That possibility seems increasingly likely given the strength of the Spider-Man brand.
Spider-Man: No Way Home earned more than $1.9 billion worldwide (despite controversially not receiving a China release) and remains one of the highest-grossing superhero films ever released. Spider-Man continues to rank among Marvel's most valuable and recognizable characters.
Marvel and Sony have offered few details about their long-term plans beyond Brand New Day, but Holland's comments indicate discussions about the future are already taking place.
For now, however, fans can look forward to seeing Peter Parker return to the big screen.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026. The film stars Holland alongside Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/Punisher), Michael Mando (Mac Gargan/Scorpion), and Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk).
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will also make her Marvel debut in an undisclosed role.
Rumors suggest that her character will play a pivotal part in the MCU's upcoming Mutants Saga, thought to succeed the Multiverse Saga once it ends with Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Would you like to see Tom Holland remain Spider-Man for years to come, or is it time for Marvel to introduce a new web-slinger?
