LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Holland, best known for his portrayal of Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is currently generating buzz for his upcoming series, 'The Crowded Room,' set to premiere on Apple TV+. Despite his breakout role as Spider-Man, Holland remains unfazed by concerns about being typecast. In a recent interview, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play the beloved superhero and his eagerness to continue portraying the character. As Holland dives into new projects like 'The Crowded Room,' he maintains a grounded perspective on his career.
Embracing Spider-Man and 'The Crowded Room'
During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment while promoting 'The Crowded Room,' Holland addressed the question of being pigeonholed as Spider-Man. He emphasized that he does not worry about how people perceive him or if they associate him solely with the superhero role. Holland stated, "I'm not really concerned about being pigeonholed. I really look at my career from my own set of eyes and I worry less about what people think about whether or not they see me as Spider-Man or whether or not they see me as Danny (The Crowded Room)." He further shared, "If I just play Spider-Man for the rest of my life, I'd still be the luckiest kid alive. So, there's no complaints from me here. As everyone knows, I love him. He changed my life. I love the character. Should we find a way to tell his story and do justice to him, we will do so."
'The Crowded Room' is a highly anticipated series based on Daniel Keyes' 1981 novel 'The Minds of Billy Milligan.' The story follows the arrest of a young man for a shocking crime and the "unlikely investigator" who unravels the mystery behind it. The novel explores the complexities of the human mind and the struggles faced by those with multiple personalities.
'The Crowded Room' took a psychological toll on Tom Holland
Holland revealed that the emotional intensity of 'The Crowded Room' took its toll on him. He described the series as a transformative experience that pushed him to his limits. As a result, he decided to step away from acting for a year to focus on self-care and spend time relaxing and rejuvenating. Reflecting on the challenges of the series, he told Extra TV, "There did come a time where I was like, I need to have a break. I disappeared, I went to Mexico for a week and had some time on a beach and laid low, and I'm now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was."
Due to the undying support of his friends, family, castmates, and an on-set psychologist, Holland felt well-supported throughout the entire process. He even acknowledged that the experience changed him for the better, telling Entertainment Weekly in May, "I feel like I've grown up a lot." Holland's commitment to prioritizing his mental health is evident in his decision to take a break from drinking, which he credits to his experience on set. On his break from acting, Holland shared that he has been spending his time traveling, seeing family and friends, playing golf, and even taking up gardening. He jokingly mentioned his attempt to keep plants alive as part of his new hobbies.
'The Crowded Room' will be available to stream on AppleTV+ on June 9.