Tom Holland he is best known for his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having established himself as one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. Now, the actor has provided a significant update on one of his most ambitious projects: a biopic about legendary dancer and performer Fred Astaire, revealing that his training for the role filled him with considerable excitement and apprehension.
The actor said his early rehearsal sessions made him realize how much work lies ahead as he prepares to honor Astaire’s legendary legacy. Image credit (Instagram).
While reflecting on the next chapter of his career during an appearance on ‘Good Morning America’ on July 20, Tom Holland shared details about his preparation for the Fred Astaire biopic. Holland revealed that she was already back in the dance studio preparing for the long-awaited project, and described her first rehearsal sessions as a humbling experience. “I did my first rehearsals recently, and it filled me with excitement and absolute dread because I have a lot of work to do to try to make Fred proud,” Holland said during the interview.
Tom Holland describes the challenges of stepping into Fred Astaire’s legacy
Holland acknowledged that he was entering a new career stage where he could no longer rely solely on youthful charm. “Now I feel like I’m starting this chapter where I can’t get away with my life as a teenager anymore,” the actor said. “For me, what I like about my job is the challenges. We have Fred Astaire on the side, which is what we’re planning to do. And as soon as I’m done with these tours, I dive back into the dance studio,” he added.
Holland said he hopes to avoid body doubles altogether and film the elaborate dance routines in single takes, just like Fred Astaire did. Image credit (Instagram).
The Spider-Man star admitted that his first few dance sessions left him feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the project ahead of him. Holland said he was determined to approach the role with authenticity and respect for Astaire’s legendary status in entertainment history. His dedication to the project was an expression of his sense of responsibility to illustrate one of the most emblematic characters in the history of cinema.
Tom Holland plans to perform dance sequences without body doubles
Holland also revealed his ambition for how the film’s dance numbers would play out on screen. “I have a desire not to use doubles, to do the whole dance, to shoot these dances in one shot, as I would have done,” he said. His approach showed respect for Astaire’s signature style of filming elaborate dance sequences in single takes, setting an exceptionally high bar for his own performance.
Holland admitted he feels a deep responsibility to do justice to Fred Astaire’s legacy as he prepares for the long-awaited biopic. Image credit (Instagram).
The biopic, which was to be directed by Paul King from a script by Steven Levenson, was first announced in 2021, when Holland confirmed he had signed on to play Astaire.
Tom Holland’s new movie: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Holland’s latest update came as he and wife Zendaya traveled the world promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The film is the married couple’s fourth Spider-Man film together after first meeting on the set of 2017’s ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ Zendaya recently reflected on reuniting with Holland for the latest installment, telling Elle that returning to the series feels familiar and rewarding. “Spider-Man was a dream; I get to go to work every day with my best friend, the person I love,” he said. “We bring our dogs to work; it’s like a family affair. We grew up with these movies! It’s like coming home,” he added.‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ hits theaters on July 31.