"It's a Mystery and a Thriller" Tom Holland & Cast on 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' transcript

What is happening to me? >> Did you miss me, Spidey? >> I'm losing my mind. I am totally out of control. I got to fix whatever this is right now. >> Got to see a clip yesterday of this film. Insane. Edge of my seat. Just for each of you, can you just talk about something that is different from this movie that's separates from other Marvel pieces of work that you've done. >> This is different. It was It was very different.

The size, the scope, the possibilities, the attention level of of detail and artistry in front of the camera, behind the camera. He's He's a wonderful leader, you know, and he cares deeply. And it was inspiring, and it was great. >> For me, it's the kind of the mystery and the thriller. Um I think for a large portion of the movie, even Spider-Man is trying to figure out what is going on. And I have never made one of these movies where the audience isn't kind of one step ahead.

And I think at this point, when you watch this film, you are in lockstep with Peter Parker. Like you are finding these things out as he is. And I think that that's a testament to who Destin is as a director because he found a way to take the action to a new level, but make a movie that feels more personal than we've ever made before. >> Yeah, I would say at the same I think the writing has leveled up a lot. I think from the first they were very much kids.

And just watching like the maturity and like the storytelling just kind of like level up in a great way is really, really fun and like rewarding. >> Yeah. And Spider-Man >> has been all over the world, but we get to bring him home to New York City. I know the fans were really enjoying that. What what What was that element like just bringing it to like that street level? >> I think it's really important, you know, something I did when I was wrestling with the idea of making this movie was what is it that the fans want?

And I And I really spent some time online listening to podcasts and watching fan reactions to stuff. And one of the, you know, the most obvious things that they wanted was this street-level crime, a New York-based story, and what's so wonderful about this film is New York is as much a character in this film as any of us are. You know, New York is such a unique place. It's so rich in culture, and the texture of the city is incredible.

So, Charlie Wood, our production designer, we built this set on the back lot of Pinewood. I mean, what was four city blocks in two different directions, and it gave us so much freedom to try and bring New York to life. >> Yeah. And just watching this villain that's possessing people, like it's so it's so unfair. Like you don't know who to trust. So, I'm curious if you guys had that ability, whose body would you jump into, and what would you do? >> In In In life? >> Let's do MCU. >> [laughter] >> Oh, in the MCU? >> Yeah, yeah.

Oh, cool. >> What body would I jump into? >> I'd probably be Messi for the World Cup final on Sunday. That'd be pretty fun. I wouldn't want to play cuz if I could If I could just experience it. >> Right. >> Right. And then like get out right before the game starts. >> Yeah, exactly. >> No, I want to be in the game. >> [laughter] >> I'm I'm chilling on the game. >> There's no way. >> Something different about them today. >> I don't know.

I mean, I guess Hulk's I mean, I guess that would be You know what I mean? I mean, I feel like that would be hard. Like you couldn't go into a lot of places and stuff, but >> I was just joking. >> Sadie said Hulk. >> Sadie said Hulk? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think that's what Pops said. >> Probably MJ. Just to feel loved by Spider-Man, I guess. >> Aw, >> [laughter] >> that's such a warm answer. >> Tom? >> In the MCU? I'd have to say Thor. >> Chris Hemsworth. >> Man, and you're a god. >> Yeah. >> The hell, Frank?

You just hit me with a van. >> Put your weapon in. Suit yourself. >> I don't know if you even heard about this, but your role has been kept very secret. I don't know if people are talking about this. >> untold, yes. >> Yeah. What is the wildest fan theory about who you're playing like that you've heard? >> I don't know. I think it's less about the specific fan theory and more just like the quantity of them. >> Yeah. >> There I've I've been like I think 18 different characters at this point. >> And which one is the right one just so I have that? >> We'll have to wait and find out. >> it, got it, got it.

How how hard is it to keep this kind of secret when you're like in the biz? >> It's not that hard. Um you just don't tell people, but I do feel bad sometimes about having to be so cagey. >> We're almost there. Then you then you could be free. >> Yeah. >> What is that moment when you're like on set you're like, "Okay, I'm really like in this Spider-Man movie." Like what was that moment for you? >> I think like just seeing Spider-Man.

That'll do it. >> Yeah. I feel like watching the clip yesterday, it's just like the world of New York City felt so like immersive. Like can you talk about that experience cuz you know Spider-Man has been all over the world for so long and now he's like back home like in Queens and doing all like the on the ground stuff. Like what what what was that experience like? >> Yeah, it's so cool to see that in the film. It really feels like a love letter to New York in a lot of ways.

You definitely feel like the heartbeat of the city and it New York being kind of a a character in this film. >> Yeah, I I can't wait to see the rest of it. Were you able to do in this film that you haven't done acting wise yet? >> It's a good question. I don't think I can really answer that yet, but I did do some things that were different. >> And then I'm watching this villain who's taking over people's bodies in the in the clip and and I just so unfair.

You don't even know who to trust. I'm so I'm curious if you had that ability, whose body would you jump into and what would you do? >> Oh god. Like within the Spider-Man world or >> Let's just do MCU. >> MCU? I think it'd be pretty cool to be Hulk, I guess. >> I don't know if I can't imagine you getting angry so you might not even get the full Hulk experience. >> I know well, I mean yeah. I guess you'd have to find out. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.

Like maybe like the small inconveniences would just start treating you. >> Right, right. >> What do you think would be your message to fans like what to look forward to about you know, when they get into that theater that that premium format? Like what what are they going to experience? >> Oh, yeah. I think it's just it's so cool to see this incredible cast back in these characters that you know and love and then also some new faces.

And I think I grew up with Tom's Spider-Man. So to watch as a fan objectively, it feels like it kind of grew up with the audience. And yeah, I think they've got a lot to look forward to. >> Was there anything surprising about like working with Tom when you were actually on set like wow, like you grew up watching this guy and and here you are? >> I mean, I just think he's like such a natural leader and such a physical actor as well, which is perfect for this role.

So I think that was not surprising, but just cool to witness. >> And did he give you like a couple good nuggets? Like is there anything you can share that's like onset that's like working, you know, your MCU movie and your debut like some some good like golden nuggets? >> Yeah, I mean, he definitely kind of told me about his experience with spoilers. >> Oh. >> Um >> Yes. >> Yeah, so we talked a little bit about that. >> Dr.

Banner, >> [music] >> you found a way to suppress mutating DNA, right? >> If you see me like this, RUN. >> [screaming] >> CHECKED OUT THE CLIP YESTERDAY AND JUST blown away on the edge of my seat, needed some more time in there, but the first thing I noticed was just the web swinging just felt different than I've seen in a while. So I'm wondering if you put your own your spin on it and what you were aiming for there. >> Our whole team was really chasing the the challenge of trying to do something different, trying to allow the audience to have a a new experience with the with these swinging and and where to place the camera, how to really give you the feeling of looking off the edge of a building, let the audience feel that vertigo.

We we looked at a lot of footage of you know, it's we're just pouring through footage on online on YouTube of of parkour footage and and wing suit footage and skydivers and how that action was captured really informed where the best places to put the camera and what types of lenses to use. So, all of that created I think some swinging that people haven't seen before. >> Yeah, no, it it was insane. And just talk about, you know, Spider-Man's been all over the world.

We brought him back home to New York City. We got that street view. Talk about what you were looking to make sure that you nailed with with that piece of the movie. >> It was really important for us to bring Spider-Man home and to keep our story New York centric. We began our whole journey with all of our department heads right here in New York. And we we spent a week here just walking the streets and taking pictures and feeling the the the vibe and the essence of of the people here.

Um I and I were I always thought if we could capture the feeling that you have when you walk down the streets of this city, all the complexities of it, not just the glitz and the glamour of of Times Square, but the the you know, the the more grungy parts or the the multicultural aspect of it. If we can capture all of that and and have that be the the backdrop of our movie, I I I do feel like it's capturing the heart of Peter Parker. >> Yeah, I agree.

And can we talk about the suit? Was there anything that you wanted to do differently with the suit this time around? >> I mean, the the suit is a natural [snorts] progression of the story. This is Peter Parker's first time being entirely alone. So, the suit is not given to him. It's not made for him. It has to be something that you could believe that he could have made himself. Um it's it's also a suit that is highly influenced by the other Spider-Men that he came in contact with.

So, you'll see a lot of nods to the comics. You'll see a lot of nods to those previous suits. And we worked very closely with not only with with Sonia, our costume designer, but our whole team at at Visual Effects at Marvel worked very hard to create a very special suit. >> Yeah, and seeing this villain that is possessing people is like the most unfair villain. I don't even know how you track this person down. I'm curious if you had that power, like whose body would you jump into and what would you do? >> Oh, man.

[laughter] If if I could jump into anybody, wow, that is a great question. >> [laughter] >> Um I don't know, man. I don't know. Who would you jump into? >> Honestly, I think I have to jump into LeBron James and tell him to come to the Knicks and just get another ring, [laughter] but I don't know if that's the right answer. >> Huh. All right, just give me a sec. Give me a sec. I'm not in high school anymore. Oh. Do you stretch?

You big stretcher? It's so good for you. >> Kevin, I'm going to start with you. You've said that this chapter is a return to the classic Spider-Man. Like, how do you balance like focusing on that those classic elements and still being able to make it feel so grand, which I think you've done? >> Uh well, everybody's done that and Destin has done that and it doesn't I mean, frankly, it doesn't take much to make Spidey feel grand.

There is that that that sense of swinging through the canyons of New York, which is something we had actively avoided in our first few movies with Tom Holland because it had been done so many times wonderfully and we wanted to to chart new ground for him. But returning to it and with Destin at the helm and the very first week of production was that uh sequence uh where he's chasing the tank through the streets of New York and it got so much coverage because we shot so much of it practically.

It was actually very exciting to see the crowds that came out in person there and the reaction and the response online to what Destin was was doing. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of time and talent, but making Spidey grand is is kind of what Stan and Steve started all those years ago. >> Yeah, truly. And then Amy, I want to talk to you about this element of surprise. We know people still love surprise, but we also know people love to figure stuff out.

So, in the world of fan theories and leaks, how do you balance that mystery versus giving the audience something to discover in the theater? >> Um it's great when people want to guess what's happening. It means they're interested and they're leaning in, and that's part of the fun. But what we really have to do is deliver them a story that they're going to like when they get there, and if we get allow our shows to get too caught up in leaving Easter eggs that make people think this is going to be this, I think then we're not focusing on the right thing.

But I wanted to say something about what you just asked, Kevin. I think the reason that Spidey always is mythic is is is tied to the fact that he is an ordinary person. >> Yeah. >> And it doesn't sound like those things would go together, but they do. Ordinary people who rise to extraordinary things of us. It's such a It's such a mythic thing, and somebody who wants to stick up for the little guy, and that that's his aim, and that's what he's always been about.

I think it catapults him to to a to a different level than you would than you would think. And so, balancing the action and the surprises and the villains and the other characters, I think it's I think it's easier than people think because because of who Peter is. >> I I think that's exactly right, but I'm I'm I'm curious to get Kevin's opinion on the the element of surprise. I know Sadie's character has been, you know, heavily debated online.

How do you guys choose which things you reveal in trailers or in talks or what you keep, you know, more to the chest? >> Uh, it's entirely about maintaining the best experience for uh, when the lights dim in the theater and the audience, as Amy said, just gives itself over to the first for the first time the way we we unveil the story. And the way her story comes together over the course of the movie is what the entire movie's about.

Um, and and the mystery of and and as as much as the mystery of the movie and why give away the mystery of of a story before people watch the story. >> And you know, people think they want to know. They think they want to know. And they think they want control over everything. But in truth, the joy of going to a movie theater is that you don't control time. >> Yeah. >> And you have to completely allow yourself to have the that experience and somebody else is controlling it.

And I don't think I think people don't really want to know. I think they think they do, but I think the experience of of um, of being in a movie theater is about something else. >> There's also a lot they know. We've shown Punisher. We've shown Hulk. We've shown ninjas. There's a lot to take in in the movie and and that because that element is so tied to the mystery and to the story, we >> I personally never want to know.

So, just >> Oh, good. >> I'm with you. Like, I don't like all the the fan theories cuz like if someone's right, then it's like it's in my brain now. >> I know. And like you you >> That's right. >> That's the incredible thing about going and sitting in a movie theater and the lights going off and you're still and you're sitting there in the dark with a bunch of people you don't know. >> Yeah. >> And it happens and it can only happen in a movie theater. >> Yeah.

And when you guys have these mystery elements, how hard is it to keep those things under wraps? You guys have done an excellent job but I can't answer any questions. Yeah. And never talk to anybody. That's a good and here we [laughter] are throwing it off. I want to switch gears to talk about Destin, you know, in the clips that I've seen it just it feels different. It's amazing what I'm seeing from the web slinging to the city elements.

I'm loving these comic book cover shots that you guys were able to execute. What was it about Destin that made him perfect for this installment? >> Well, I mean he'd done amazing work with us on Shang-Chi and and was finishing a show called Wonderman for us at the when we were when we were working on this story. And uh and Amy and I had a conversation, we were looking for filmmakers and I thought we would be very lucky to get the to get Destin.

For the for all those reasons that he could bring a new eye to it for action but also that that he keys in on the emotion so so much. And he is a very humble man who was very uh complimentary of the other Spidey movies and the movies that Jon had made for us. >> Yeah. >> And wanted to embrace all those elements while bringing his own Many people want to come in and put a big stamp on and change things and change things.

And to be very honest with you, Amy and I were were trying to change more things than uh that ended up changing because Destin came in and said, "But I love those elements that Jon had. Let's keep Let's keep those." >> He said, "Hello, what are you guys crazy?" >> Yeah. >> But he the other thing about him is beside that, he's great action director and a great storyteller, is he's so authentic. He's so authentic as a person.

His filmmaking is so authentic. Everything comes from, I don't believe this, or I do believe this. >> Yeah. >> And that is a good barometer for making a movie. >> Amy, I'll stay with you. I want to switch gears to Tom. It's my understanding he had more impact on building the story out. I'm curious to see his >> I mean, it's his fourth movie. He knows this character better than any of us at this point. Um, and he's really smart.

And if you've ever spoken to him, which I'm sure you have, he's incredibly eloquent. And he is He knows Spider-Man, and he is Spider-Man, and and he's real smart. So, it's You want good ideas from everybody, especially from the person playing the character. >> It is one of the great privileges in this job to to to watch actors grow with the characters and take ownership of the characters in such amazing and become the characters in in many ways.

And we've always wanted input from the actors, but in this case, Tom was just very very interested and hungry to be involved in it, and thank goodness he was, because he he he helped make the movie what it is. >> And I mean, you guys have a huge year ahead of you. How does Peter's story here get us to Doomsday? >> I mean, this is very much a This is very much a movie that takes place before I don't want to say long before, but but before Doomsday in its own contained way.

So, it is it is very much the story we're telling for Peter is is is contained before the events of Doomsday. >> Understood. And with all the success that you guys have both accomplished, your movies are some of the the things I, you know, treasure the most. With today's day and age, how do you benchmark your success? How do you know that a project like met the Mark? >> If I love the character. If I love the character and you stick with the story being about the choices that the character makes, that's the plot, then you know you're okay. >> Love it.

Uh first job often is make a movie that that that you're proud of. >> Yeah. >> Uh and then the rest is up to the is up to the to the audience. >> Yeah, we're both lucky that we get to keep doing this. Um and uh I think loving it, you know? I think I think that's a big part of it.