Tom Holland on meeting Robert Downey Jr. for the first time

Watching your heroes on screen is one thing, but actually meeting them? An entirely different story. What about working with them? For Spider-Man: Homecoming star Tom Holland, that experience has been very real, and the actor recently told Extra what it was like meeting who he was sure was Robert Downey Jr. for the first time at his initial audition for the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man:

“I walk into this audition and I see him and freak out a little bit inside. I go up to him… and I’m starting to get really breathy and I’m looking at him going, ‘Wow, you’re different in person. You don’t look the same at all.’ Then Robert walked in and I realized I’d been talking to his stunt double the whole time.”

The more intriguing part of this story is what must have happened after Robert Downey Jr. walked into the room? Given the Iron Man actor’s razor-sharp wit, it must have been something to behold. Let’s just hope that Tony Stark had the courtesy to save it for after the audition.

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

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Originally published July 6, 2017. Updated December 17, 2019.