Tom Holland to play Fred Astaire, calls role 'terrifying'

Tom Holland is preparing to tackle one of the most demanding roles of his career, stepping into the shoes of the iconic Fred Astaire for an upcoming biopic. This project marks a return to Holland's artistic origins, as he possesses a strong background in dance and musical theater before achieving global fame as Spider-Man.

Holland confirmed his involvement in the Fred Astaire film during an interview on "Good Morning America." He revealed that preparations have already begun, stating, "We have Fred next, that's what we plan to do. And as soon as I finish these tours, I'll be back in the dance studio." He acknowledged the immense pressure and mixed emotions that come with portraying such a revered figure.

"I did my first rehearsals recently, and they filled me with both excitement and absolute dread, because I have so much work to do to try and honor Fred," Holland shared. His ambition is to perform all the dance sequences himself, without the use of doubles, and to capture the routines in single takes, mirroring Astaire's own performance style.

Speaking on "Live with Kelly and Mark," Holland reflected on his current career phase. He views the near-simultaneous release of "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" as the conclusion of one chapter and the start of a new artistic pursuit. "What I'm looking for in this next chapter is the ultimate challenge, and finding things that really scare me," he stated, reiterating the terror and excitement he felt returning to dance rehearsals for the Astaire role. The film will be directed by Paul King.