Owen Cooper Addresses ‘Spider-Man’ Rumors and Reveals How Tom Holland Inspired His Acting Dream

Published 06/27/2026, 9:23 PM EDT

Credits: @owencoooper via Instagram

Owen Cooper has finally addressed the swirling rumors about becoming the next Spider-Man and credited Tom Holland for sparking his very dream of acting. The sixteen-year-old, fresh off his Adolescence success, sat for a chat that moved between football banter and Hollywood ambition with effortless charm. Cooper kept the mood playful while still making his stance on the rumors known. What followed offered a surprisingly personal look at how his journey actually began.

While fans flooded social media with Spider-Man theories, Cooper had something far more honest to say about his real inspiration behind the mask.

Owen Cooper sets the record straight on The Tonight Show

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Owen Cooper made his stance clear when Jimmy Fallon asked if he was a Tom Holland fan, and he answered with an enthusiastic "yeah." He explained that online chatter painting him as expectant for the role does not match reality.

"It's like, everyone thinks I expected to play Spider-Man, but I was like, no, that's not true," he said on The Tonight Show.

He then added, "I think I've watched The Impossible over 40 times," revealing that watching Holland sparked his dream of acting.

Tom Holland himself has only fueled the conversation further, openly naming Cooper as a strong contender to inherit the mask. Speaking with Esquire, Holland praised the young star, calling him incredibly talented and the current talk of the industry. He revealed his wish to mentor whoever steps into the role next, much like Robert Downey Jr guided him through his earliest Marvel projects. This endorsement places real weight behind the speculation Cooper just tried to downplay.

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Such high praise naturally raises the question of why Owen Cooper actually fits the role so well.

Why Owen Cooper could be the perfect Spider-Man fit

Owen Cooper brings a rare emotional depth that few teenage actors manage to display so convincingly. His award-winning performance as a troubled teenager in Adolescence earned him an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA, proving he can carry heavy material with ease. That same range mirrors the psychological burden Peter Parker often carries in the comics. At just sixteen, Cooper also offers an authentic teenage presence that older actors in their twenties have rarely been able to replicate on screen.

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Beyond acting range, Cooper shares an unexpected parallel with Tom Holland, having trained seriously as a youth footballer back in Manchester. That athletic background gives him a natural physical agility that could translate well into demanding stunt sequences. Both actors also achieved their breakthrough roles at the age of fourteen, a coincidence fans have already noticed online. Whether or not the rumors ever turn official, Cooper has made his admiration for Holland and his honest stance on the speculation perfectly clear.

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What are your thoughts on Owen Cooper possibly becoming the next Spider-Man? Let us know in the comments.

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Shraddha Priyadarshi

1831 articles

Shraddha is a content chameleon with 3 years of experience, expertly juggling entertainment and non-entertainment writing, from scriptwriting to reporting. Having a portfolio of over 2,000 articles, she has covered everything from Hollywood’s glitzy drama to the latest pop culture trends. With a knack for telling stories that keep readers hooked, Shraddha thrives on dissecting celebrity scandals and cultural moments.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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