Tom Holland is positioning himself as a serious actor ready to grow beyond the Spider-Man franchise, and this Fred Astaire project shows he's willing to put in the work—literally. The desire to shoot authentic oners demonstrates his commitment to honoring Astaire's legacy rather than relying on modern editing tricks.
Insiders have been whispering about this project's longevity for years. Nearly five years is an eternity in Hollywood, and some question whether the delays signal creative disagreements or simply the challenge of landing such a prestigious biopic. Holland's vocal enthusiasm might be aimed at keeping the project alive.
Holland first revealed he would lead a Fred Astaire biopic nearly five years ago. The film is being directed by Paul King, known for helming the beloved Paddington films. Holland stated he wants to film dance scenes as oners in order to capture them 'how [Astaire] would have done it.'
Tom Holland is betting big that audiences want to see him transform from superhero to song-and-dance man—and with this level of commitment to authenticity, he's clearly not planning to phone in the choreography. Whether this project finally makes it to screens after five years of development remains the real question.
Tom Holland is ready to trade in his Spider-Man suit for dancing shoes—and he wants to do it the old-fashioned way. The actor recently shared an update on his long-anticipated Fred Astaire biopic, revealing he's pushing for a bold directorial approach that would honor the legendary performer's iconic style. Speaking about his vision for the dance sequences, Holland made it clear he doesn't want to hide behind modern filmmaking shortcuts.
"I want to film everything as oners," Holland explained, referring to continuous shots without cuts. "How [Astaire] would have done it." The comment reveals just how deep he's diving into understanding Astaire's methodology—a stark contrast to how most contemporary musicals handle complex choreography through editing tricks and camera assistance. The project has been in development for nearly five years now, with Paul King—best known for directing the charming Paddington films—attached to helm.
That's a significant timeline by Hollywood standards, and it suggests either meticulous development or ongoing challenges in getting the biopic off the ground. Holland's recent public enthusiasm could be interpreted as an effort to signal that progress is being made, or perhaps a subtle pressure tactic to keep the project alive given its lengthy gestation period. Holland is currently juggling an exceptionally busy summer, promoting both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
That dual focus on prestige projects and his signature franchise suggests he's carefully navigating his career trajectory—building credibility as a serious actor while maintaining the commercial appeal that made him a global star. Taking on Fred Astaire would represent perhaps his most ambitious creative leap yet, requiring not just acting chops but genuine musical theater-level performance skills. The decision to pursue authentic single-take dance sequences adds considerable pressure to an already challenging undertaking.
Oners are notoriously difficult to execute even for trained dancers, and asking a leading man who's known primarily for superhero roles to pull off Astaire-caliber choreography in unbroken takes is a massive ask. But if Holland manages to deliver, it would silence any lingering doubts about his range and establish him as genuinely committed to the craft rather than just chasing prestige projects.
