Three's A Crowd: Tom Holland Throws Down The Gauntlet To The Previous Spider-Men

As we slip into something more comfortable than red and blue lycra, the triumphant return of #SpiderMan is but a web-sling away. #Marvel's upcoming #Homecoming sees the youngest live-action version of Stan Lee's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and the character's return to the bosom of the #MCU. #TomHolland seems pumped to be the third actor to take on the mantle since the reinvention of comic book movies with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man in 2002.

He may be young, but Holland aims to wash the other spiders down the plughole, with high hopes for his iteration of Web-Head and confidence in abundance. With a six-picture deal, let's hope that Holland doesn't get tangled in his own web and can bring Spidey back from a lackluster past.

Battle Royale

The 20-year-old Holland isn't letting his junior status put him off taking on the big boys of Hollywood, or the actors who have previously played Peter Parker. Let's be honest, Tobey Maguire is probably the most iconic of the Parkers, while Andrew Garfield slips into that awkward Val Kilmer/Batman era, and Holland is the new blood. However, all signs point to Holland dethroning Maguire as the ultimate Spider-Man, but only time will tell.

Not that his fan-favorite status is 2016's Captain America: Civil War went to his head or anything, but when asked in a recent interview with ShortList Magazine on who would win in the three-way spider-fight, Holland confidently replied:

“Me. Absolutely. Hands down.”

Looking at Holland's uber-techy Stark suit, I wouldn't like my chances if I were Maguire or Garfield either. And it seems that Garfield has finally come to terms with his unceremonious sacking from the Spideyverse, revealing that he is looking forward to see Holland's outing:

"I think it looks great. I'm really excited to see it, I can't wait. I'm a big fan of Tom and that character, so I'm just really excited to see it."

Sure, Tom may have age on his side, but given his nerdy high school status, can Holland's Spidey also get the girl? Alongside Iron Man, Spider-Man is one of Marvel's lighter heroes, and it looks like Homecoming is moving back toward Spidey's roots by adding plenty of comic relief to the story. As long as there is no recreation of emo Peter Parker and Tobey Maguire's jazz club, I'll be OK with that.

The Name's Holland, Tom Holland

Not content with challenging his predecessors, it also seems like Holland has thrown down the gauntlet for another well known hero of our screens, so watch your back Tom Hardy. When comparing Maguire to the Sean Connery of the Spider-Men, ShortList also asked Holland which version of James Bond he would be:

"I actually need to brush up on my Bond knowledge because Sony release Spider-Man and Bond. I keep telling them I'm the next 007 - as a joke. But also kind of serious. 'Come on guys let's make this happen.' If I keep dropping it into interviews it'll eventually happen."

Holland is definitely a little too young to pick up a "OO" status and swap water pistols for a Walther PPK just yet. Anyway Tom, don't you have that small matter of a contract to appear as Spider-Man until you are 27 to deal with first? Who knows what the future could hold, but expect Holland to catch more than a few flies if Homecoming is a success.