6 Roles Tom Holland Bombed, Lost, Or Bailed On Before He Became Spider-Man

Spider-Man (MCU) — The One He Actually Won, After a Brutal 5-Month Gauntlet

Tom Holland beat out thousands of hopefuls for Peter Parker, with casting director Sarah Finn later revealing they read 2,500 actors before landing on him. Holland has said the process took five months and included eight auditions, five self-tapes, and screen tests opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans before he finally got the part.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens — He Couldn't Stop Laughing at a Fake Droid

Around the same time he was chasing Spider-Man, Holland auditioned for what he believed was John Boyega's eventual role of Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He's admitted the audition fell apart because he couldn't keep a straight face while reading opposite a woman making robotic 'bleep bloop' noises as a stand-in droid, and he didn't land the part.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle — He Was Actually Cast, Then Had to Drop Out

Holland was originally set to play Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, but he had to bow out once his Spider-Man commitments took over his schedule. Nick Jonas stepped in and ended up playing the role instead.

Wonka — He Made the Final Two, Then Lost to His Girlfriend's Co-Star

Years after Spider-Man, Holland and Timothée Chalamet reportedly came down to the final two contenders for the title role in Wonka, alongside names like Donald Glover, Ezra Miller, and Ryan Gosling. Director Paul King ultimately went with Chalamet and offered him the part without even auditioning him.

November Criminals — He Read for the Lead Opposite Chloë Grace Moretz

Holland auditioned to play Addison Schacht, the grieving teen investigating his friend's murder in the crime drama November Criminals, and was reportedly devastated when he didn't land it. The role instead went to Ansel Elgort, who starred opposite Chloë Grace Moretz in the 2017 film.

Peaky Blinders — The Mystery Rejection Even the Creator Wants to Fix

Holland has confirmed he auditioned for the hit BBC gangster series Peaky Blinders and didn't get cast, though he's never revealed which role he was up for. When series creator Steven Knight heard about the rejection, he speculated it must have been a major part and publicly invited Holland to join the long-gestating Peaky Blinders movie instead.