In a recent interview with AP, Spider-Man: No Way Home star Tom Holland has confirmed that he has indeed signed on to portray Fred Astaire in Sony Pictures’ upcoming untitled biographical film about the legendary American actor, dancer, and singer. His casting was actually first teased in GQ’s November 2021 profile of Holland where executive producer Amy Pascal had mentioned that she was eyeing the 25-year-old actor for the said leading role.
“Oh, I am playing Fred Astaire,” Holland revealed. “The script came in a week ago; I haven’t read it yet. They haven’t given it to me. I know Amy Pascal has the script. She Facetimed me earlier when I was in the bath and we had a lovely Facetime. But I will be playing Fred Astaire.”
RELATED: Tom Holland Comments on Marvel & Sony’s New Spider-Man Trilogy Plans
Fred Astaire was a multi-talented American actor, dancer, singer, and choreographer that was active from the 1930s to the early 1980s. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest dancers in film history and had starred in a number of Broadway musicals, musical films, and television specials. He received further recognition for his tap dancing skills in classic musical films such as 1942’s Holiday Inn, 1948’s Easter Parade, 1953’s The Band Wagon, 1957’s Funny Face, and more.
This marks the second Fred Astaire project currently in development as it was previously announced that Amazon Studios is also producing a film titled Fred & Ginger which will center around the on and off-screen romance between Astaire and long-time collaborator Ginger Rogers. The project will be led by Jamie Bell and Margaret Qualley in titular roles.
RELATED: Tom Holland to Star in The Crowded Room from Akiva Goldsman
Holland is no stranger to dancing as he first started his career in the West End musical of Billy Elliot The Musical when he was only 13 years old. He also got the chance to show off his dancing skills during a 2017 episode of the Lip Sync Battle where he performed a mashup of “Singin’ in the Rain,” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”
