One Tip From Jon Bernthal Helped Tom Holland Land the Spider-Man Role

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Jon Bernthal played a part in helping Tom Holland join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel last week, Bernthal shared that they were both vying for roles in Marvel Studios productions in 2015 – Bernthal for The Punisher and Holland for Spider-Man. They even filmed their audition tapes together and encouraged Holland to highlight his athletic skills to make him stand out among the other applicants. While Bernthal humbly suggested that this might have influenced Holland’s casting, he acknowledges that he had reservations about the intense competition during the audition process at the time.

Bernthal began by expressing his admiration for Tom Holland, stating, “Tom Holland is truly one of the most remarkable individuals to have ever lived.” This was met with approving cheers from the audience. He continued, “I can’t praise this young talent enough. I adore him. We worked on a film around seven or eight years ago, which could be compared to The Odyssey, it was essentially a medieval adventure tale. However, it was made on a budget that was just a tiny fraction of what a typical production of such a film would cost – almost insignificant.

It appears that Bernthal might have been referring to the film “Pilgrimage,” which was released in 2017, following their respective debuts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Filming for “Pilgrimage” took place in the spring of 2015, leaving little time for Holland to work on “Captain America: Civil War” and Bernthal on “Daredevil” Season 2, both of which were released in 2016. Despite not intersecting in the MCU, Bernthal and Holland are now collaborating again in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.

He shared that it was the same location where both Tom and I held our auditions – Tom for Spider-Man, and me for The Punisher. Interestingly, we helped each other record our audition videos for that film. At the time, Tom was just a teenager, but his intensity and conviction were unlike anything I had ever seen. He would confidently say, “I am Spider-Man,” as if he already had the role. Despite the fact that many aspire to be Spider-Man, he truly believed he would get it. I remember thinking, ‘There are probably plenty of people who want this role. While you’re incredibly talented, the odds are stacked against you.’ However, Tom’s unwavering belief was inspiring. Over time, as you get to know him and see his dedication, it becomes clear why he has become the successful movie star that he is today.

Essentially, Bernthal stated that the actor is not only exceptionally talented athletically but can perform all those daring stunts for real. In his audition tape, Tom even took it up a notch by sliding into the scene and then running up a wall to do a double backflip at Bernthal’s suggestion. According to Bernthal, none of the other contenders could pull off such a feat!

In a modest manner, Bernthal didn’t claim full credit for Holland’s casting, but hinted at a small involvement, saying, “It’s not as if I’m responsible for him, but, you know, sort of, right?” He added this with an arched eyebrow and a sly grin, implying a minor contribution. “A hint of credit perhaps?

Bernthal recently came back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Daredevil: Reborn”, concluding its first season on Disney+. A second season is slated for the early part of 2026. The future of Holland within the MCU remains enigmatic yet intriguing, however, we can confirm his appearance in “Spider-Man: Fresh Start” next year. As for “The Odyssey”, filming is currently underway with a projected release date of July 17th, 2026.

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2025-04-22 18:10