Stan Lee Says Tom Holland Was Born To Play Spider-Man

When fans learned that Spider-Man would be returning to theaters in yet another franchise, many were understandably wary. The beloved hero has starred in two major film series in recent years, and moviegoers hesitated to watch yet another origin tale about the web-slinging vigilante. However, their hesitance dissipated once they saw Tom Holland debut his iteration of Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. And, now, Stan Lee himself is saying that the British actor was born to play Queen’s resident hero.

During a appearance in Tokyo, the famed comic creator took time to speak about Holland and his involvement with Spider-Man. “Tom Holland is the greatest,” he said. “We are so lucky to have him. I had lunch with him back in the states a few months ago, and he was born to play Peter Parker. He’s perfect, and you’re going to say the same thing when you see him.”

While this is the most recent praise Lee has given Holland, it is not the first. Earlier in the year, the writer gushed about the actor as Denver Comic Con.

“Oh, he’s wonderful,” Lee said. “He’s great. I can’t believe it. It’s as if we created a living being to be Spider-Man and it turned out to be Tom. Really!”

Of course, fans are not surprised by how much Lee loves Holland. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe already know the studio is invested in making smart, contemporary choices when it comes to casting. Marvel Studios is renowned for its painstaking casting process, and they have hit the nail on the head by hiring talent like Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Evans to play Doctor Strange and Captain America. And, as always, Robert Downey Jr. has been praised continuously since he suited up as Iron Man.

In fact, Lee complimented the iconic actor for his long-running work at Rhode Island Comic Con. The geek icon told attendees that Downey was also born to play Tony Stark.

“That man was born to be Iron Man, you know? He’d be on the top of the list,” Lee said. “But, I have to say: whoever does the casting for Marvel is a genius. For instance, I can’t picture anyone being better than Thor. Captain America? You couldn’t beat him.”

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

The cast features Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea), Michael Keaton (Batman, Birdman), Zendaya (K.C. Undercover), Donald Glover (The Martian, Community), Jacob Batalon (North Woods), Laura Harrier (One Life to Live), Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Tyne Daly (Cagney and Lacey), Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), with Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler), and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, The Avengers). It also includes Martin Starr (Silicon Valley), Kenneth Choi (The People vs. O.J. Simpson), Michael Mando (Better Call Saul), Selenis Leyva (Orange is the New Black), Isabella Amara (The Boss), Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. (Graceland), JJ Totah (Liv and Maddie), Hannibal Buress (30 Rock), and Jacob Batalon (North Woods).

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The film is being directed by Jon Watts (Cop Car, Clown), based on a screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley (Vacation reboot) and Jon Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers.

Spider-Man: Homecoming will be released on July 7, 2017.