2021-05-27T14:18:09ZOlivia SinghMarvel Stars Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr.’s Friendship Timeline
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr.’s friendship is all thanks to Marvel.
Holland and Downey Jr., known for their roles as Spider-Man/Peter Parker and Iron Man/Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, respectively, met more than five years ago.
Since then, they’ve developed a strong, mentor-like bond similar to their on-screen counterparts.
Keep reading for a complete timeline of their friendship.
2015: Holland met Downey Jr. during the later stages of his months-long audition process for ‘Captain America: Civil War’
Speaking to fellow MCU star Daniel Kaluuya for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series in 2021, Holland described the audition process as “horrible” because of how grueling it was. Eventually, he got far along in the auditions that he was one of seven actors chosen to do screen tests with Downey Jr.
“It’s the best audition I’ve ever done,” Holland said. “He and I were riffing off each other. My agents told me that Marvel likes you to learn the words exactly — you can’t improvise. And then, on the first take, Downey just completely changed the scene.”
The actor said that the audition went so well that he was convinced that he’d get the part. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige later praised Holland’s screen test with Downey Jr., noting that the young actor was “keeping up with him off book to some very funny ad-libs.”
Weeks after the screen test for Downey Jr., Holland was called back to Atlanta to perform a fight scene with Chris Evans as part of another screen test. Approximately one month later, Holland found out via Instagram that he landed the part and flew out to Atlanta to begin filming the movie.
April 14, 2016: Downey Jr. appeared on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and called Holland a ‘fantastic’ choice for the role of Spider-Man
Downey Jr. was on the talk show to promote “Civil War.” When asked if he was OK with the British actor playing Spider-Man, Downey Jr. said: “I like this Tom Holland guy. It’s about the person, Jimmy.”
May 6, 2016: Holland made his Marvel debut in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ fighting alongside Downey Jr.’s Iron ManFrom left: Chadwick Boseman, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Tom Holland, and Don Cheadle in “Captain America: Civil War.”Disney/Marvel
In the movie, Tony Stark/Iron Man traveled to Queens, NY to recruit the teen webslinger to be part of his team in the fight against Captain America and the other superheroes.
Team Iron Man was comprised of the two aforementioned characters, plus Rhodey/War Machine, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Vision, and T’Challa/Black Panther.
February 10, 2017: Marvel released its 1st behind-the-scenes video from the set of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
The video included footage of Holland, Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt on set for the first day of filming on January 23, 2017.
Holland posted an image of the trio on Instagram account that day with the caption: “I can’t believe that this is happening to me and that I’m standing in between these legends, but here we are crushing it every day and making the craziest movie of all time. So grateful for this opportunity.”
A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013)
Downey Jr. also posted a screenshot of the stars on Instagram, calling them “Infinity boys.”
In the months leading up to the release of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’ Holland and Downey Jr. shared images from the movie and behind-the-scenes photos
One of the photos posted by Holland in March 2017 had the caption, “Notes from the big guy. #spidermanhomecoming.”
A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013)
Downey Jr. also shared a photo of himself, Holland, and Jon Favreau (who plays Happy Hogan in the MCU) on the set of the film. He called them a “killer trio.”
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
June 4, 2017: The two actors appeared on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ together
During the interview, Downey Jr. recalled meeting Holland and the other Spider-Man contenders during the screen test.
He said that “everybody was good, and then there was just this other element” that Holland had.
June 28, 2017: Holland and Downey Jr. posed for photos together at the premiere of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. in June 2017.Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP
The premiere took place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. During a red carpet interview, Holland called Downey and Michael Keaton (who starred as “Homecoming” villain Adrian Toomes/Vulture) “two of the nicest guys I’ve ever worked with.”
“I love them both,” he said.
Downey Jr. also gushed about the “Homecoming” star, saying: “I never thought I’d wind up being a ‘father figure’ to another Avenger, but I couldn’t pick a better character or actor to do it with.”
July 5, 2017: During an interview with Moviefone, Holland said that his favorite on-set moment with Downey Jr. happened while filming ‘Civil War’Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. in “Captain America: Civil War.”Disney/Marvel
Holland said that one day while in his trailer, one of the movie’s assistant directors invited him to have dinner at Downey Town, which is the legendary actor’s own on-set village that includes four trailers and a chef.
“I went and had lunch with him and it was so intimidating,” Holland recalled. “He has his own little restaurant, a garden, Wimbledon tennis was playing in the background, the sun was shining.”
“That was the day I was like, ‘This is legit. This is real,'” he added.
July 7, 2017: ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ was released in theaters starring Holland and Downey Jr.Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”Sony/Marvel
The movie marked Holland’s first standalone “Spider-Man” movie in the MCU, showing the young superhero navigating his powers and duty after returning home following the events of “Civil War.”
Downey Jr.’s character served as a mentor to the webslinger.
April 27, 2018: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ was released in theatersRobert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in “Avengers: Infinity War.”Disney/Marvel
The movie brought together various MCU superheroes to stop the villain named Thanos. Holland and Downey Jr.’s characters spent most of the movie in space.
Holland improvised part of the film’s heartbreaking moment in which Spider-Man began turning to dust in front of Iron Man and said: “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go, sir. Please. Please, I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go.”
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. in “Avengers: Infinity War.”Disney
The actor later told Deadline that he looks back on filming that scene “fondly.”
“It was amazing. I loved it,” he said. “I got to hug Robert Downey Jr., like, 60 times, and cry on his shoulder. What’s not to love?”
April 3, 2019: Downey Jr. shared a behind-the-scenes photo of him and Holland
The image showed the actors in character, holding a Stark Internship certificate upside-down.
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
Downey Jr. posted a similar image a few days later as a throwback, writing: “#tbt to simpler times… I love you kid…”
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
A slightly different version of that photo was also seen in Tony’s home in “Avengers: Endgame.”
April 4, 2019: Holland shared a touching post for Downey Jr.’s birthday
“To a mentor on and off screen, happy birthday boss man,” he wrote. “Hope you have a wonderful day #teamstark.”
Their characters had an emotional moment after Peter and the other dusted Avengers were brought back to life for the final battle against Thanos.
The reunion didn’t last long, because Tony sacrificed himself to save everyone. He died shortly after wielding his own gauntlet and snapping his fingers to rid the universe of Thanos and his army.
May 12, 2019: Downey Jr. shared a behind-the-scenes video showing Tony and Peter’s ‘Endgame’ reunion
“Stark and Parker reunited… #Spidey senses tell me a few of you were hoping for this moment…” he captioned the Instagram post, which showed the two actors filming that heartfelt scene.
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
June 26, 2019: Holland said that he had a brief moment of panic in which he thought his friendship with the ‘Iron Man’ star was over
During an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” the “Onward” star said that Downey Jr. once FaceTimed him at 2 a.m. and he “didn’t even check to see who it was” before declining the call.
“I woke up, and I panicked,” Holland said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to ghost you!’ He obviously didn’t reply for ages, because of the time difference in LA. So that was maybe the most stressful day of my life, where I thought my relationship with Downey was over.”
Holland also revealed that he has Downey Jr.’s number saved as “The Godfather” on his phone.
July 2, 2019: ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ was released, Holland’s first MCU film without Downey Jr. as his costarTom Holland in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”Marvel/Sony
Released months after “Endgame,” the movie centered on the titular character trying to go back to his normal life and enjoy a trip to Europe with his friends.
At the premiere of the film, Holland said that making “Far From Home” without Downey Jr. “was really emotional.”
“I’ve only ever made a ‘Spider-Man’ movie with Robert and he’s a great friend of mine and I was FaceTiming him last night and he wished me the best of luck,” he said.
“We’ll miss him, but he’ll never be forgotten,” Holland added.
August 22, 2019: Holland and Downey Jr. reunited for a hike
Holland posted a series of selfies on Instagram with the caption, “We did it Mr Stark!” — a nod to a line spoken by Peter in “Endgame” as Tony died.
A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013)
The reunion took place amid a feud between Disney (the company Marvel Studios is part of) and Sony, who co-produce the “Spider-Man” films.
After a deal between the two fell through, it was reported that Holland’s webslinger would be removed from the MCU.
Thankfully, the two studios ended their disagreement and agreed to co-produce the upcoming third “Spider-Man” film.
September 7, 2019: Holland reflected on working with Downey Jr. and said the veteran actor ‘took me under his wing’ when he joined the MCURobert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”Sony/Marvel
While speaking at a panel at a convention called FanX in Salt Lake City, Utah, Holland said that he was sick on set one day and didn’t know Downey Jr. too well at that point, but the actor was caring and comforting.
“He was really sweet and he kind of looked after me and took me under his wing a little bit,” the actor said. “Entering the Marvel Universe is daunting, it’s a big process.”
January 17, 2020: The two actors teamed up again for the family film ‘Dolittle’Tom Holland voiced Jip in “Dolittle,” which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character.Universal P
Downey Jr. starred as the titular character, who had the ability to communicate with animals, and Holland voiced a glasses-wearing dog named Jip. The Marvel actors were joined at the film’s premiere by Holland’s own dog named Tessa.
December 2, 2020: Holland revealed that he still has a jacket that he borrowed from Downey Jr. Tom Holland revealed that he still has a jacket that he borrowed from Robert Downey Jr.Tom Holland/Instagram; Robert Downey Jr./Instagram
Holland posted a mirror selfie on his Instagram story that showed him wearing a red fleece zip-up jacket from Stussy over a yellow Nirvana T-shirt.
He tagged his costar in the photo and captioned the post, “Looking after your jacket mate!”
In response, Downey Jr. reposted the image with a GIF of a sparkling red jacket and the caption: “#ThankYou Brother.”
It’s unclear if Downey Jr. gave the piece of clothing to Holland as a gift or let him borrow it indefinitely, but the “Spider-Man: Far From Home” star has worn it more than once in the past.
February 9, 2021: Downey Jr. praised Holland’s performance in his latest movie ‘Cherry’Tom Holland in “Cherry.”Apple TV Plus
Holland portrays a former Army medic with PTSD and drug addiction in the movie, which is based on a novel of the same name.
“It will be that missing moment where you’ve been around the great performances, you’ve delivered the great performances within the context of being in a genre franchise, and now you have your moment to show that you can compete among the best of them in the realm of drama,” Downey Jr. said during an interview for Esquire’s cover story on Holland for the March 2021 issue.
Downey Jr. shared similar sentiments while moderating a “Cherry” Q&A the month prior.
February 18, 2021: Holland called Downey Jr. ‘the perfect kind of role model’Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in January 2020.John Phillips/WireImage
“He is the godfather of the MCU, and he is arguably one of the biggest movie stars in the world,” Holland said in an interview with Backstage. “He is so professional, he’s so kind, he treats everyone on set with respect. He’s never late, he knows everyone’s name.”
“So, for me, that was the perfect kind of role model, where I was like, ‘Well, if he’s like that and he’s the biggest movie star in the world, then I have to be like that. Because I’m not the biggest movie star in the world, and there’s no room for me to not be as respectful as he is,'” he added.
