Tom Holland's Spider-Man is once again swinging back into action – but not in New York.
Instead, the 29-year-old was seen in full Spider-Man costume, waving to fans and jokingly shooting webs on the streets of Glasgow, where filming has officially begun for the upcoming Marvel sequel Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
But as the set transforms Scotland’s biggest city into a copy of downtown Manhattan and videos of the beloved star circulate on social media, fans are all asking the same thing: Why Glasgow?
The answer, at least in part, comes down to budget.
Production kicked off on August 1, with central Glasgow being turned into a Hollywood-scale facsimile of New York. Bothwell Street now features a full line-up of American yellow cabs, NYPD cruisers, an FDNY vehicle, a USPS mail van, and even a New York City bus.
One taxi is reportedly set to crash in an action-packed sequence, while a tank – yes, a tank – was parked at the centre of the action, with Holland seen perched on top mid-scene, the Glasgow Times reports.
Parts of the city centre have been cordoned off for the shoot, with 56 roads affected by closures, parking restrictions, and bus lane suspensions. According to city officials, disruption is expected until August 16.
And it’s not just fans and city workers who’ve noticed the chaos – Glasgow’s Hollywood glow-up has been hard to miss in recent years. From Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to The Batman, The Flash, and even World War Z, the city has become a go-to stand-in for American backdrops. Tom Holland is just the latest A-lister to take advantage of Scotland’s growing role in blockbuster filmmaking.
Per the Daily Mail, transforming the streets of Glasgow to those of the Big Apple is a much cheaper option that filming in New York City.
Brand New Day is the fourth instalment in the Holland-led Spider-Man series and picks up after the dramatic conclusion of No Way Home, where Peter Parker erased himself from the world’s memory to protect those he loves. Now, with the world forgetting the iconic superhero, it appears Spider-Man is navigating a new beginning – quite literally on new streets.
Holland, who previously worked in Scotland while filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey last month, looked relaxed on set as he interacted with a crowd of around 100 people on Sunday. TikTok clips show him smiling, shaking hands, and posing for photos in full costume, telling fans it was “lovely to meet everyone.”
Fans also caught a glimpse of Holland rehearsing stunts with wires attached to his suit, practicing Spider-Man stances on top of a truck, and resetting between takes. At one point, he was spotted resting on railings, giving a thumbs-up to crew, and taking a water break during what appeared to be a physically intense shoot.
While Marvel is keeping most plot details under wraps, the cast list is beginning to take shape. Alongside Holland, Zendaya returns as MJ, and Jacob Batalon reprises his role as Ned Leeds. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is also rumoured to be joining the cast, along with Jon Bernthal as The Punisher and Liza Colón-Zayas.
The film is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Holland’s latest on-set appearance follows a whirlwind few weeks for the actor. He was recently unveiled as the face of Prada’s Paradigme fragrance campaign, posing with puppies in the promotional shoot. He also finally addressed long-running speculation about becoming the next James Bond. While appearing on chef Gordon Ramsay’s YouTube channel, Holland was coy: “Listen, there's speculation at the minute. We’ll keep it to a minimum for now,” he said with a grin. “We'll get there one day.”
“Every young British actor, it’s the pinnacle of working in our industry,” he added. “I already consider myself to be the luckiest kid alive. I could never have dreamed to have the career that I've had.”
As Glasgow doubles for New York once again, it’s clear the Scottish city is no longer just a backdrop – it’s a blockbuster in its own right.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set for release in 2026.
