Tom Holland, who has played Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2016, has opened up about who he believes should be the next Spider-Man. In a recent interview with Esquire, Holland named Owen Cooper, the breakout star of the Netflix limited series Adolescence, as his ideal successor .
“Owen Cooper would be awesome. Obviously, he’s super-talented and the talk of the town right now,” Holland told the outlet .
A mentor like Downey
Holland, who is currently preparing for the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, also stated that he is open to remaining involved with the franchise as a mentor . He expressed a desire to do for the next Spider-Man what Robert Downey Jr. did for him when he first joined the MCU.
“In the way that Robert Downey was such a mentor for me in my first three movies, I would love to be that person for whoever is next,” he said . Holland noted that while it is “pretty tough to get a producing credit on future movies,” he is open to the idea of helping shape the franchise’s future .
Owen Cooper’s rise
Cooper became an overnight sensation at just 14 years old with his performance as Jamie Miller in Adolescence, a series shot entirely in a single continuous take . His portrayal of a teenage boy accused of murder earned him an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA, making him the youngest-ever winner in several major acting categories .
The 16-year-old actor has since starred as young Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and is set to appear in the upcoming film Cry to Heaven opposite Nicholas Hoult and Colin Firth . Interestingly, Cooper himself has already expressed interest in the role. Shortly after his Adolescence breakthrough, he told i-D magazine: “I want to play Spider-Man” .
For now, Holland remains the web-slinger, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to release in theatres on July 31, 2026 . However, with Holland acknowledging that the franchise will inevitably move on to a new chapter, his public backing of Cooper adds fuel to the speculation about Marvel’s next era.
