Tom Holland is heading back to dance class for Fred Astaire role
The actor says he has begun rehearsals for a Fred Astaire biopic and wants to perform the dance scenes himself, without doubles.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Tom Holland’s next big swing is all tap shoes, terror and a lot of studio time.
The actor is preparing to play Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic, and he told George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” that rehearsals have already begun. Holland said that after finishing promotional duties for “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” he will return to dance training.
“As soon as I finish with these tours, I’m diving back into the dance studio,” Holland said on the ABC morning show. He added that his first rehearsals left him excited, but also worried by the scale of the job ahead as he tries to honor Astaire.
Holland said the plan is to perform the dancing himself. According to his “Good Morning America” interview, that means avoiding doubles and trying to film the numbers in single takes, in the style associated with Astaire’s screen work.
The biopic was first announced in 2021, Variety reported. Holland is set to portray Astaire, the Hollywood and Broadway dancer known for his elegant screen partnerships, precise footwork and long career in movie musicals.
A new chapter after Spider-Man
Holland spoke further about the project the next day on “Live With Kelly and Mark.” He said the timing of “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” arriving within weeks of each other, made him feel as if one phase of his career had closed.
On the daytime show, Holland said he is looking for “the ultimate challenge” in the next stage of his work and wants roles that frighten him. He described the Astaire film, referred to in the interview as “Fred,” as exactly that kind of test.
He said his first rehearsal for the film left him both thrilled and intimidated because of the amount of preparation still required.
Dance is not new ground for Holland. He broke through as a young performer in “Billy Elliot the Musical” in London’s West End, a stage role that demanded serious dance training.
Still, Holland told “Live With Kelly and Mark” that he regrets stopping dance after his time in “Billy Elliot.” The Astaire role has now pulled him back into that world.
Holland also said the project has taken him back to the same central London dance studio where he once rehearsed for “Billy Elliot.”
No release date, director or production schedule was detailed in Holland’s interviews. For now, the headline is the training: Holland wants the steps, the stamina and the camera pressure to be his own.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.