Owen Cooper addresses Spider-Man speculation after Tom Holland calls him ‘awesome’ successor

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Owen Cooper has addressed growing speculation about potentially becoming the next 'Spider-Man' during an appearance on 'The Tonight Show' with host Jimmy Fallon on Saturday, June 27.

The discussion comes after Actor Tom Holland, who currently portrays the superhero, publicly praised the 16-year-old actor and suggested he could be a strong choice for the role in the future. The conversation has also gained attention as 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' could reportedly be Holland's final solo outing as the character.

Owen Cooper responds to 'Spider-Man' speculation

During the interview, Fallon brought up the growing fan campaign surrounding Cooper potentially playing Spider-Man, telling him, "A lot of people want you to play Spider-Man. I think you should play Spider-Man. I think he'd be amazing."

He acknowledged that he has seen the speculation online but insisted he is not expecting to land the role. "In like 10 years' time, maybe," he joked, before explaining that becoming the superhero had simply been a childhood dream.

"I've seen this on TikTok. It's like, everyone thinks I expected to play Spider-Man, but I was like, no, that's not true. It was a dream of mine since I was a kid. So, yeah, I'm not expecting it. I just wanted to be it," Cooper said, adding that he would gladly accept the opportunity if it ever came along.

Fallon also asked him about his early ambitions before acting. The young actor revealed that football had originally been his main focus, explaining that he grew up playing the sport with his two older brothers before discovering acting through drama lessons about four years ago.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind his acting career, Cooper recalled repeatedly watching 'The Impossible' as a child. He recalled watching the film more 'than 40 times' and was deeply moved by it every time by Holland's performance resulting in wanting to follow a similar path.

"I just looked at him and I thought, I just want to do what he's doing," he said, crediting him as one of the biggest inspirations behind his decision to pursue acting.

Tom Holland's endorsement and Owen Cooper's rise

In an interview with Esquire, Holland spoke highly of Cooper while discussing the future of the franchise. Calling the teenager "super-talented" and "the talk of the town right now," he described him as "awesome" and suggested that the Spider-Man role could serve as "a great springboard" for a fresh face.

He also expressed confidence that the franchise could continue to succeed with a new generation of actors. He also revealed that he hopes to remain involved with the Spider-Man franchise after eventually stepping away from the role. 

While acknowledging that earning a producer credit on a major franchise can be challenging, he said he would love to help shape future Spider-Man stories and support whoever takes over the mantle. "In the way that Robert Downey was such a mentor for me in my first three movies, I would love to be that person for whoever is next," Holland explained.

His endorsement has fueled fan discussion, particularly following Cooper's breakout success in 'Adolescence.' After winning the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television award at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, he reflected on staying grounded despite his rapid rise to fame.

"I've got my family around me. I've got amazing friends, you know? I've got amazing people around me," he told reporters after accepting the award and added, "I've got the best support, best protection, so I can't not keep my feet on the ground."