Holland said he hopes to portray the legendary actor and dancer without using any doubles
Credit: Pablo Cuadra/Getty; Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Tom Holland is back in the dance studio as he prepares to portray Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic
- The actor admitted the iconic role fills him with both “excitement and absolute dread”
- Holland said the project marks a new chapter in his career as he takes on more challenging roles
Tom Holland is preparing to step into one of his most demanding roles yet.
While reflecting on the next chapter of his career during an appearance on Good Morning America on July 20, Holland shared that he’s already back in the dance studio preparing for his long-awaited Fred Astaire biopic.
“I now feel like I’m starting this chapter where I can’t quite get away with being a teenager anymore,” the actor, 30, said.
“For me, what I love about my job is the challenges. We have Fred Astaire next, which is what we’re planning on doing. And as soon as I finish with these tours, I’m diving back into the dance studio,” he added.
Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC
The Spider-Man star admitted his first dance sessions left him feeling equal parts excited and overwhelmed.
“I did my first few rehearsals recently, and it both filled me with excitement and absolute dread because I’ve got so much work to do to try and do Fred proud,” Holland told GMA.
Holland also said he’s hoping to tackle the film’s elaborate dance numbers without relying on stunt performers.
“I have a desire to use no doubles, to do all of the dancing, to shoot those dances in one shot – how he would have done it,” he said.
The biopic, which will be directed by Paul King from a screenplay by Steven Levenson, was first announced in 2021, when Holland confirmed he had signed on to play Astaire.
At the time, Holland told the Associated Press he had just received the screenplay but hadn’t yet read it.
“The script came in a week ago,” he said. “I haven’t read it yet; they haven’t given it to me.”
He also recalled learning the news during a FaceTime call from producer Amy Pascal.
“She FaceTimed me earlier. I was in the bath,” Holland said with a laugh. “And we had a lovely FaceTime, but I will be playing Fred Astaire.”
Holland’s latest update comes as he and Zendaya have been traveling the world to promote Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which arrives in theaters July 31.
Credit: Gerome Defrance/Getty
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The film marks the married couple’s fourth Spider-Man movie together after first meeting on the set of 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Zendaya, 29, recently reflected on reuniting with Holland for the latest installment of the franchise, telling Elle that returning to the series feels familiar.
“Spider-Man was a dream; I get to go to work every day with my best friend, the person that I love,” she said. “We bring our dogs to work; it’s like a family affair.”
“We grew up on those movies! It’s like coming home,” she added.
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