Tom Holland believes some superhero and action roles have become so closely tied to the actors who played them that they simply shouldn’t be recast. During a friendly conversation with Matt Damon on Complex‘s GOAT Talk, Holland singled out Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and Damon’s Jason Bourne as performances that have become inseparable from the characters themselves.
The discussion wasn’t about shutting the door on future actors or criticizing Hollywood’s love of reboots. Instead, it centered on the rare occasions when a performance becomes so definitive that audiences struggle to imagine anyone else in the role. Holland, who is himself the third live-action Spider-Man, acknowledged that not every franchise falls into that category.
Tom Holland Says Some Characters Should Simply Be Left Alone
While discussing the greatest superhero of all time, the conversation shifted to actors who became synonymous with their characters. Damon praised Spider-Man and noted that the role has benefited from “a parade of excellent actors,” referencing the different live-action interpretations over the years before complimenting Holland’s take on the character.
Holland agreed but drew a distinction between legacy heroes like Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman, who have all been portrayed by multiple actors, and a small group of characters whose original performances have become inseparable from the role.
“For me, it would have to be Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man,” Holland said before expanding on the idea.
“I think there are only three people that have ever really done this, and it’s you, Downey, and Hugh Jackman. No one wants to play Jason Bourne. No one wants to play Iron Man. And no one wants to play Wolverine. You know, I’m the third person to play Spider-Man. There’s been lots of Batmans. There’s been lots of Supermans, all this sort of stuff. But there are only a few characters in our industry where it feels like, just leave them be.”
Damon appeared genuinely touched by the compliment, responding with a smile, “Oh wow, that’s awesome. Thank you very much. This is the friendliest… this is more like—absolutely.”
Holland’s comments weren’t a criticism of recasting as a whole. In fact, he has repeatedly expressed interest in passing the Spider-Man mantle to the next generation. Speaking to Empire, Holland said, “For whoever’s next, whether that is a Miles Morales or a Spider-Gwen or a Spider-Woman or something like that, I would love to be a part of setting up the next chapter.”
He also compared that idea to the mentorship Robert Downey Jr. gave him when he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, adding, “If I could do what Downey did for me, then I would be so content swinging off into the sunset.”
Those comments help explain the distinction Holland made during GOAT Talk. He sees characters like Spider-Man as enduring heroes who can evolve through different generations, while performances like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne feel uniquely tied to the actors who first brought them to life.
Marvel Studios’ recent decisions also reflect that thinking. Rather than recasting Wolverine, the studio brought Jackman back for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, while Robert Downey Jr. returned to the MCU as Doctor Doom instead of Marvel introducing a new Tony Stark. Whether those characters remain untouched forever remains to be seen, but Holland believes a handful of performances have earned a legacy that’s best left alone.
For more from Holland and Damon, including their discussion about superhero performances and definitive movie roles, you can watch the full GOAT Talk episode below.