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Tom Holland is the reason Spidey's going through "Spider-Puberty" - but don't let Marvel know you're calling it that

Tom Holland pitched the "Spider-Puberty" idea to Marvel Studios for Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Image credit: Marvel Studios

News by Jules Chin Greene, Staff Writer

Published on Mon Jun 01 2026

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Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks the fourth Spidey movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this time, actor Tom Holland got to contribute some ideas of his own to the film's story. Nearly ten years after the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland was ready to go beyond his role as the film's leading man with Brand New Day.

If you've seen the trailer for Brand New Day, you may have noticed a plot point where Peter Parker appears to start generating his own organic web fluid (jeepers). As it turns out, this was Holland's own idea that he pitched to Marvel Studios.

“My pitch when I came to the table with it was called ‘Spider-Puberty,'" Holland told Empire. "What happens if Peter Parker is losing control and things are changing? 'Spider-Puberty’ was my tagline pitch to the studio — which was immediately shot down. But they liked the kernel of the idea and it grew into what we have in the movie now.”

Okay, so the term 'Spider-Puberty' may have been shot down by Marvel Studios, but that doesn't mean that we as fans have to accept that. I mean, why not call it what it appears to be? Spider-Man is meant to be a relatable character, and going through puberty is an incredibly awkward experience. Why shouldn't a Spider-Man movie reflect that process?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released July 31.

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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.