Tom Holland was rushed to hospital on Friday morning after suffering a head injury during a stunt for Spider-Man: Brand New Day at Leavesden Studios in Watford, with production on the £150 million Marvel blockbuster now suspended whilst the British actor recovers from concussion.
The 29-year-old actor fell and cracked his head at approximately 10:30am whilst performing one of Peter Parker’s trademark manoeuvres at the renowned Hertfordshire studio, according to multiple sources familiar with the production. A female stunt double was also transported to hospital via ambulance following the incident, though Sony Pictures has not confirmed the extent of her injuries.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed emergency services attended the scene, stating: “We were called at 10.30am on Friday to attend to a patient who had sustained an injury at Leavesden Studios in Watford. An ambulance was sent to the scene, and the patient was transported to hospital for further care.”
Production Halted Indefinitely
Filming has been suspended indefinitely on the highly anticipated fourth instalment of Holland’s Spider-Man franchise, which is scheduled for release on 31 July 2026. Sony Pictures executives are meeting today to determine how to proceed with the production schedule.
A source close to the production told industry publication Deadline that Holland sustained a “mild concussion” and would be taking a break “out of precaution” but is expected to return to filming within days. However, other reports suggest the production hiatus could extend for several weeks.
The Health and Safety Executive may investigate the incident, given the scale of the accident and the involvement of multiple crew members requiring hospitalisation.
Actor Attended Charity Event Despite Injury
Despite the serious nature of Friday’s incident, Holland made a brief appearance at a charity dinner in Mayfair on Sunday evening alongside his fiancée and co-star Zendaya, 28. The actor posed for photographs but left the event early after reportedly feeling unwell.
His father, comedian Dominic Holland, confirmed to guests at the event that his son would be away from filming “for a while,” suggesting a potentially longer recovery period than initially anticipated.
“Tom’s safety is paramount,” said an industry insider who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These stunts are incredibly complex and whilst every precaution is taken, accidents can happen. The production will not resume until medical professionals clear him to return.”
Ambitious Practical Effects Approach
Holland had expressed enthusiasm about returning to practical stunts and location shooting for Brand New Day after the previous film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was filmed entirely on soundstages due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’re really gonna lean into that old-school filmmaking and shoot in real locations,” Holland said in an interview before production began. “It’s gonna feel like making Spider-Man 1 again. It’s gonna feel like a breath of fresh air.”
The production had begun filming in Glasgow, Scotland, in early August, transforming the city’s streets into New York for several weeks of location shooting. Spectacular scenes featuring car chases, controlled explosions, and a tank sequence were captured before the production moved to Leavesden Studios for interior and stunt work.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel Studios, had indicated the team was “nerding out over the suit, how to swing, how to create an event” that audiences hadn’t seen before.
Cast and Production Details
The film features returning cast members Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, with new additions including Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas, and Jon Bernthal reprising his role as Frank Castle/The Punisher from previous Marvel productions.
Mark Ruffalo is also set to appear as Bruce Banner/Hulk, marking another significant Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover in the film.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day represents a crucial entry in Marvel’s Phase Six slate, positioned as the beginning of a new trilogy for Holland’s Peter Parker following the universe-altering events of No Way Home.
History of Spider-Man Production Incidents
This latest incident adds to a concerning history of accidents during Spider-Man productions. The infamous Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark suffered multiple stunt-related injuries during its preview period, including stunt performer Christopher Tierney’s 6.4-metre fall into the orchestra pit in December 2010.
Film industry safety expert Professor Michael Davidson from the British Film Institute noted: “Superhero films push the boundaries of practical stunts, and whilst safety protocols have improved dramatically, the inherent risks remain significant.”
Holland, a trained gymnast and parkour enthusiast, has performed many of his own stunts throughout his Spider-Man tenure, following in the footsteps of actors like Tom Cruise who pride themselves on practical stunt work.
Financial and Schedule Implications
The suspension of filming could have significant financial implications for the production, with industry analysts estimating potential costs of £500,000 to £1 million per day of delayed shooting, depending on the extent of cast and crew commitments.
Sony Pictures has not commented on whether the incident will affect the film’s 31 July 2026 release date, though sources suggest post-production work can continue on already-filmed sequences whilst Holland recovers.
The film is expected to be one of 2026’s biggest releases, with the previous instalment, Spider-Man: No Way Home, grossing over £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and producer Amy Pascal, who are overseeing the production, have not issued public statements regarding the incident.
As Holland recuperates, fans worldwide have expressed concern on social media, with many suggesting professional stunt doubles should handle all dangerous sequences to prevent such incidents and production delays.
The production’s insurance providers will likely conduct their own investigation into the incident, potentially affecting future decisions about actor participation in high-risk stunts across the industry.
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Image Credit:
Tom Holland, San Diego Comic-Con 2016 — photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons.wikimedia.org)
