Tom Holland Reveals Zendaya Learned About Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Return

Tom Holland is not known for keeping Marvel secrets, and a recent interview has shown that even the most confidential news in the MCU was not safe once it reached him.

The actor disclosed that Robert Downey Jr. personally called him before the highly anticipated Doctor Doom announcement, and Zendaya found out almost immediately after.

During a conversation with Cinemania while promoting ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ in Madrid, Holland recounted the moment Downey called to share the news, stating he hung up the phone and told Zendaya right away that “Downey’s coming back.” Zendaya confirmed the accuracy of the story, mentioning they were together when he received the call.

“Yeah, he just called me,” Holland recalled about hearing from Downey directly. “And I caught up with him a couple days ago on the phone. Yeah, we’ll just have casual catch-ups every now and then. He checks in. And he just told me, and it’s really exciting.” This description reflects a genuine off-screen friendship that dates back to Holland’s early days in the MCU when Downey’s Tony Stark acted as his character’s mentor.

The revelation carries a layer of irony that Marvel fans will appreciate. Holland previously admitted on the Rich Roll podcast that knowing about the Doctor Doom announcement was “a tough secret to sit on” due to his well-known tendency to accidentally spoil Marvel content, and that he had strategically avoided press leading up to the Comic-Con reveal. It seems that discipline only extended so far, as Zendaya was apparently exempt from the embargo.

Regarding what Downey’s return as Doctor Doom means for Peter Parker, Holland is keeping things much closer to the chest this time. He plainly stated that he does not know much about ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ by design, saying, “I have a reputation for spoiling certain things, and I think the studios are keeping me from the juicy details.” However, he did express that when he eventually gets on set, he is “so curious” about what the dynamic will mean for Peter and how it will all unfold.

The excitement surrounding a potential confrontation between Peter Parker and Doctor Doom has been growing among fans for months. Downey spent a decade portraying Tony Stark, effectively serving as a father figure to Holland’s Spider-Man across three team-up films, making the idea of Holland facing him as a villain one of the most emotionally charged matchups the MCU has ever set up. The Russo Brothers previously told Entertainment Tonight that Downey has been deeply involved in developing the character, crafting backstory and contributing costume ideas, with Joe Russo stating he “just loves really rich three-dimensional characters” and “sees a real opportunity here.”

Holland will next appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and set for release on July 31. Whether or not he ends up confronting his former mentor-turned-villain in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ it is evident that the prospect has the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man excited about whatever Marvel has in store.

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