There have been many mysteries surrounding the first animated series by Marvel Studios, What If…?. Before the show even premiered, many wondered why certain voices did not get included in the production. Dave Bautista famously voiced the fact he wasn’t invited, which turned out to potentially have been the result of miscommunication. Yet, there’s also the surprising absence of Tom Holland, who’s been very open on wanting any chance to play Spider-Man. In a Collider interview with executive producer Brad Winderbaum, he gave a clearer statement on his absence.
You know, I’m not treated to all the ins and outs of the relationship with Sony. But, I think it may have had something to do with it, yeah.
At the beginning of August, his absence caught many people’s eyes. There have been some leaks that hinted at Spider-Man not being who we think he is, which his absence gave some credence. It’s uncertain which exact episode the What If…? version of the character will appear, but he is definitely part of the MCU canon, as they were not allowed to introduce new characters. Of course, they may have also simply found a different actor to voice the character similar to how they approached the absence of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Still, here’s hoping the constant right disputes between Marvel Studios, Disney, and Sony might find an end in the near future to not restrict Holland or the character’s future within the ever-growing franchise.
If you’re interested in the complete interview with Winderbaum, you can check out the Collider interview here:
Source: YouTube
