Tom Holland Recalls His Awkward First Encounter With Robert Downey Jr.

06/18/2017 05:18 pm EDT

With Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures working together for the latest cinematic portrayal of Spider-Man, they made a major change to the character that filmgoers have yet to truly see.

Though Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield portrayed Peter Parker in high school in their respective series, the actors were both older; Garfield was 29 and Maguire was 26 when their first films were released.

But Spider-Man: Homecoming features newcomer Tom Holland in the role, who is still older than a typical high schooler at age 21 (Parker is a sophomore in the new film) but is younger than actors typically portraying the character. That youthful exuberance extends to the character's presence in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe as Spider-Man interacts with fellow superheroes for the first time in his cinematic career.

That mentality apparently goes beyond the silver screen, as evidenced by Holland's story about his first embarrassing interaction with Robert Downey Jr., who portrays his onscreen mentor Tony Stark in the new film.

"I got very nervous about meeting Robert Downey Jr. as I have been a fan of his my entire life," Holland said on the Graham Norton Show.

UP NEXT: First Homecoming Reactions Finally Hit The Internet

"When I met him I was thinking, 'You look different in person, something isn't quite the same,'" Holland added. "And then Robert walked in and I realized I had been chatting to his stunt double!"

It's one of those "face, meet palm" moments you wish didn't happen but gets funnier in each telling. Downey Jr. probably wouldn't let you forget such a story, anyways. But the two have made the press rounds in promotion of Spider-Man: Homecoming and have a humorous relationship with each other. You get the sense they enjoy working together.

We'll get to see them share the screen once again when Spidey gets his first feature film under the Marvel Studios banner on July 7.

Are you excited to see Spider-Man: Homecoming? Let us know with your vote in the Anticipation Rankings below!

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Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts, from a screenplay by Jonathan M. Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, and stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly, Bokeem Woodbine, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr.

[h/t] Sunday Express

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