Tom Holland kept one of Marvel’s biggest recent secrets from the public, but not from Zendaya.
The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star said Robert Downey Jr. personally told him about his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Marvel made the news public. Downey, who played Tony Stark and Iron Man for more than a decade, is returning in Avengers: Doomsday as Victor von Doom.
In an interview with Cinemanía, covered by TheWrap, Holland said Downey called him directly with the news. Zendaya was nearby when the call came in, and Holland said he told her immediately.
“I think I hung up the phone and was like, ‘Downey’s coming back,’” Holland said. Zendaya confirmed the timing in the same interview, saying he told her “right away” and that they were “in the same room” when he got the call.
Holland Said Downey Called Him Personally
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Holland said he and Downey still check in with each other after working together in the MCU. “Yeah, he just called me,” Holland said, according to TheWrap. “We’ll just have casual catch ups every now and then. He checks in. And he just told me — and it’s really exciting.”
The detail fits the older MCU relationship between the two actors. Downey’s Tony Stark became a mentor figure to Holland’s Peter Parker after Captain America: Civil War, and that connection carried through Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The Secret Was About Doctor Doom
Marvel announced Downey’s return at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024. The studio said he would return in a new role as Victor von Doom, with Joe and Anthony Russo directing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
The reveal was a major shift because Tony Stark died in Avengers: Endgame. Downey’s new role does not simply bring Iron Man back; it puts the actor behind one of Marvel’s biggest villains as the franchise moves into its next Avengers chapter.
At Comic-Con, Downey stepped forward from a group of masked Doom figures and removed his mask. “New mask, same task,” he said during the reveal, according to Marvel. “What can I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.”
Marvel Is Still Keeping Holland Away From Some Details
Holland said he does not know much about the larger Avengers: Doomsday story, and joked that Marvel’s secrecy around him is intentional.
“I don’t know a lot about those movies, I think by design,” Holland said, according to TheWrap. “I have a reputation for spoiling certain things, and I think the studios are keeping me from the juicy details.”
He said he is still curious about what Downey’s return could mean for Peter Parker. “When I do get to grace that set, I’m so curious — you know, what does that mean for Peter? And how does that work?” Holland said. “I’m very excited about whatever it is they’re doing.”
The Reveal Comes During a Big Holland-Zendaya Stretch
Holland and Zendaya are both part of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which TheWrap reported is scheduled for release on July 31. The film follows the three Jon Watts-directed Spider-Man movies and has Destin Daniel Cretton directing.
The interview also came during a more public personal stretch for the pair. People reported that Holland recently confirmed he and Zendaya are married, after months of speculation about whether they had held a private wedding.