Tom Holland is not leaving Spider-Man behind just yet, but he has already started thinking about who could wear the mask after him.
That conversation is arriving at an especially interesting moment. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) is scheduled to open in theaters across the United States on July 31, with select Prime member screenings beginning July 29 and premium large-format showings starting July 30.
For Marvel fans, the focus should be on Holland’s return as Peter Parker. Instead, one of the biggest talking points ahead of the movie’s debut involves the actor who might eventually replace him.
Holland recently named Owen Cooper as someone he believes could become the next Spider-Man. Cooper, one of the fastest-rising young actors in entertainment, earned major attention for his performance in Netflix’s Adolescence (2025).
That does not mean Marvel Studios or Sony Pictures has begun planning Holland’s departure. There is no public indication that Cooper has been offered the role, tested for the part, or entered any formal discussions.
Still, Holland’s endorsement carries weight.
Tom Holland Has Thought About Life After Spider-Man
Holland has spent a large portion of his adult life playing Peter Parker.
He entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War (2016) before leading Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). He also appeared in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
By the time Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives, Holland will have played the character for roughly a decade.
That is a major commitment for any actor, especially one who took on the role while still very young. Holland has spoken several times about not wanting to hold onto Spider-Man forever, even though some of his earlier comments sounded more final than his current position.
He once suggested that continuing to play Spider-Man after turning 30 would mean he had made a mistake. He has since walked that statement back, admitting that it was not a particularly thoughtful thing to say.
His newer comments suggest a more balanced perspective.
Holland appears willing to continue as long as the stories remain worthwhile and the studios want him involved. At the same time, he understands that another actor will eventually have to take over.
Owen Cooper Is Holland’s Choice
When asked about Spider-Man’s future, Holland identified Cooper as an actor he believes could succeed him.
Cooper is still only 16 years old, which makes him a natural candidate for a future Peter Parker reboot or another younger interpretation of the hero. His acclaimed work in Adolescence established him as a performer capable of handling emotionally demanding material despite his limited experience.
That ability would be essential for Spider-Man.
Peter Parker is not simply a superhero who swings through New York City and fights colorful villains. The character depends on vulnerability, grief, humor, guilt, and the constant struggle between personal responsibility and an ordinary life.
Holland’s best performances have often come during Peter’s most emotionally difficult moments. Cooper’s early work suggests he may possess the dramatic range needed to approach similar material.
Still, Holland’s comments should be viewed as a personal recommendation rather than a casting announcement.
Marvel has not chosen a new Peter Parker. Sony has not announced a replacement. Holland remains the current face of the franchise.
Holland Wants To Become a Mentor
The most interesting part of Holland’s comments may not be the name he selected.
It is the role he hopes to play after leaving the suit behind.
Holland said he would like to mentor the next Spider-Man in the way Robert Downey Jr. supported him during his earliest Marvel films. Downey’s Tony Stark became a guiding figure for Peter within the MCU, but Holland has also spoken about the actor’s influence away from the cameras.
That experience appears to have shaped how Holland views his eventual departure.
Rather than stepping away and cutting all ties with the franchise, he seems interested in remaining involved. He could potentially serve as a producer, creative adviser, or off-screen mentor to the next actor chosen for the role.
That would give Holland an opportunity to help someone else manage the pressure that comes with becoming Spider-Man.
Few roles attract this much attention. Every casting decision, costume change, trailer, interview, and performance becomes the subject of intense public debate.
Holland understands that pressure better than almost anyone.
Brand New Day Is Not a Farewell
Fans should not interpret this discussion as evidence that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be Holland’s final movie.
The film appears to be the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of his story.
Spider-Man: No Way Home closed with Peter Parker completely alone. His friends no longer remembered him, Aunt May was gone, and his identity had disappeared from the world’s memory.
That ending gave Marvel and Sony an opportunity to rebuild Holland’s Spider-Man from the ground up.
Brand New Day is expected to follow a more independent Peter Parker who has devoted himself fully to being Spider-Man. The movie could also set up additional films, new relationships, and a second trilogy built around a more mature version of the character.
Holland may have named his preferred successor, but that successor could be waiting for years.
Spider-Man Will Always Continue
Spider-Man has already survived multiple live-action changes.
Tobey Maguire defined the character for one generation. Andrew Garfield offered a different interpretation. Holland then became the MCU’s Peter Parker and brought the hero into Marvel’s interconnected movie universe.
Eventually, someone else will take the role.
Holland seems to accept that reality, and he may even welcome it when the right time comes. His support for Cooper shows that he is thinking beyond his own tenure and considering what the franchise could look like for another generation.
For now, however, the suit still belongs to him.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is about to begin, and Holland’s next chapter as Peter Parker may only be getting started.
