Tom Holland has indicated that his upcoming role in The Odyssey will be his final portrayal of a "boy" on screen, marking a significant transition in his acting career. The 30-year-old actor, who began his professional journey at a young age playing Billy Elliot in London's West End at 12 and later made his film debut in The Impossible, sees the part of Telemachus as a fitting end to the first chapter of his career.
"I think for me, it's one of the great coming-of-age stories in Western literature," Holland told IGN. "I think it felt really like the last time in my career I get the chance to play a boy. It felt like a perfect kind of bookend to the first chapter of my career."
He elaborated on the character of Telemachus, describing his journey as one of self-discovery. "He's pining after his dad and doesn't really know where he belongs or who he is. And throughout the course of the movie, he learns to become a man, to step up to the plate, to take the throne, but only when he's ready."
Holland's performance in The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is expected to showcase a more serious and stern side compared to his more lighthearted MCU portrayal of Spider-Man. The film is set to release in theaters on July 17.
Holland also spoke about his frequent co-star Jon Bernthal, with whom he shares the screen in both The Odyssey and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The two actors have a long history, having also appeared together in the 2017 Apple TV thriller Pilgrimage. Holland recalled their first day working on The Odyssey as a "legendary" experience, successfully filming an incredibly emotional scene in a single night.
"I think our first day on The Odyssey felt like a sort of legendary day for the two of us," Holland revealed. "We had two days worth of work scheduled, and we got it all in one night, and it was an incredibly emotional scene. It was a huge challenge. I think we left the set feeling like we'd really accomplished something. I think what Chris [Nolan] does so well is he definitely tests you early on, and if you're able to rise to the occasion, it gives you so much confidence for the rest of the movie because you're like, ‘It definitely can't get any tougher than that.’ It really does. But it filled me with confidence."
He expressed his affection for Bernthal, adding, "And I love Jon to death. I've known him for a really long time, but sharing the set with him as Spider-Man and the Punisher is so special because we did each other's self-tapes 10 years ago."