Tom Holland Shares His Experience with a Pre-Shoot Body Hack for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Bathhouse Scene

Every physically demanding role comes with its own set of behind-the-scenes rituals that actors swear by, whether it’s intense workout routines or last-minute tricks aimed at achieving a more camera-ready appearance. For a franchise centered around a superhero physique, these pre-shoot rituals have become nearly as essential as memorizing lines.

This pressure was particularly evident for a memorable scene in Tom Holland’s latest portrayal of Spider-Man, which required him to undress more than usual in front of the camera. Before filming, Holland opted to try a method some actors use to appear leaner on screen, but he was left unimpressed with the outcome.

The scene features Peter Parker entering a Russian bathhouse run by Florence Pugh’s character to gather intel on a new adversary. He is instructed to strip down and enter the water to prove he isn’t hiding any weapons, and Peter reluctantly complies, stopping short at his mask and underwear.

Reflecting on his preparation for the scene, Holland admitted that the process wasn’t worth the discomfort it caused. “I had tried to do that stupid dehydration thing for that scene, where I didn’t drink any water the day before and then I drank loads of water the day before that,” Holland shared with Entertainment Weekly. “I tried to see if it would make a difference, and the only thing it did is it just made me really grumpy.”

He didn’t hold back on his overall assessment, concluding that the effort had been pointless. “I don’t even think it really made that much of a difference,” he stated in the same interview.

Holland also mentioned the slightly awkward dynamics of filming the scene, noting that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon were off set that day, which he considered fortunate given the circumstances. “It would’ve been a little bit weird, it would have been strange,” he added, “We were in our underwear.”

The bathhouse sequence fits into the film’s broader narrative, which follows a troubled Peter Parker dealing with the emotional fallout of having his identity erased from existence. This psychological toll reportedly triggers a dangerous mutation in his DNA, setting the stage for the new adversary he confronts throughout the film.

Holland’s candid admission adds a refreshingly human touch to what’s often glamorized behind-the-scenes preparation in the superhero genre. Instead of endorsing the method, his takeaway serves as a clear warning against trying it at all.

For fans following the film’s record-breaking theatrical run, Holland’s unfiltered honesty has become a key part of his appeal, providing a candid look at the less glamorous realities behind major blockbuster moments.

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