Jon Bernthal’s Touching Words About Tom Holland Reveal a Bond That Goes Way Deeper Than Hollywood
Few friendships in Hollywood carry the kind of weight that comes from watching someone grow from a teenager into a genuine movie star. That is exactly the vantage point Jon Bernthal speaks from when he talks about Tom Holland, and his latest words about the ‘Spider-Man’ actor have given fans a rare and genuinely moving glimpse into just how far back their connection runs.
The two actors first crossed paths while filming ‘Pilgrimage’ in 2017, a working relationship that quickly evolved into something far more personal. It was during that production that both men quietly filmed each other’s audition tapes for their respective Marvel roles, with Holland going for Spider-Man and Bernthal gunning for the Punisher. Bernthal later recalled on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live‘ that Holland was absolutely convinced he would land the role, repeatedly saying “I am Spider-Man” on set, a level of belief that clearly left a lasting impression.
In a recent interview shared via The Kelly Clarkson Show, Bernthal opened up about Holland in terms that went well beyond typical co-star praise. Bernthal reflected on working with Holland across back-to-back films for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘The Odyssey,’ before sharing why he genuinely believes Tom will be a great father one day. The quote from the video captures a man who has watched Holland evolve in real time, noting his drive, his confidence, and his deep kindness, before landing on the warmest possible conclusion about the kind of person Holland has become.
That parting comment about fatherhood lands with particular resonance given that Holland and his longtime partner Zendaya got engaged between Christmas and New Year’s, with Holland dropping to one knee in an intimate setting at one of Zendaya’s family homes in the United States. Bernthal’s words feel less like a celebrity soundbite and more like genuine pride from someone who has had a front-row seat to all of it, referencing Holland’s relationship warmly and expressing how happy he is that his friend has found love.
The two actors are set to share the screen together twice in quick succession in 2026, first in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ which arrives on July 17, and then just two weeks later in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ on July 31. In ‘The Odyssey,’ Holland plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and prince of Ithaca, while Bernthal appears to be taking on the role of Antinous, the scheming leader of the suitors vying for Penelope’s hand in her husband’s absence. The pairing is one of the more quietly exciting dynamics of what is shaping up to be a massive summer.
Bernthal has made no secret of the fact that watching Holland work fills him with genuine admiration, describing the experience of seeing him on set as something that blows him away entirely. There is something quietly remarkable about a friendship that began on a small Irish medieval film, ran through two Marvel universes, a Nolan epic, and an engagement ring, and still sounds just as warm and unguarded as it did at the start. With ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Brand New Day’ both landing this summer, audiences will finally get to see that decade-long bond reflected on the biggest screens possible.
What do you think, does hearing Bernthal speak about Holland this way make you even more excited to see them share the screen together in both films this summer?
