You can ask Tom Holland himself, even Spider-Man needs a break now and again. That in and of itself is enough of an explanation for the movie star taking a year off of acting. However, if you’re looking for a more specific explanation than that, you’ve come to the right place.
Spider-Man: No Way Home and Uncharted were two films that came out back-to-back starring Holland over a year ago. Both of those films were undoubtedly physically demanding roles, especially for Holland, who is known for his physicality and for doing his own stunts. That in itself sounds exhausting enough to take a hiatus. But it turns out another role was even more draining for the actor.
It turns out, the upcoming The Crowded Room was the final straw that ultimately convinced the actor to go on sabbatical, according to an interview with Extra.
Unlike the aforementioned stunt-heavy blockbusters that transformed Holland into a superstar, The Crowded Room is a more grounded psychological-thriller series for Apple TV Plus. Indeed, Holland confirmed in the interview that it was not the physical aspect of the role that was so deflating, but the mental exhaustion of tackling a role that explores themes of trauma and mental health, as well as taking on the role of producer. As Holland explained,
“It was a tough time for sure. We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day kind of problems that come with any film set. Just added that extra level of pressure.”
Despite all the hard work it took to create the series, Holland said he “really enjoyed it” overall, especially when it came to learning the ropes of being a producer. However, Holland said that the show ultimately did “break” him at one point.
“The show did break me. There did come a time when I sort of…I was like, I need to have a break. I disappeared, I went to Mexico for a week and had some time on a beach and lay low. And I’m now taking a year off and that is a result of how difficult the show was.”
You can check out the premiere of The Crowded Room on Apple TV Plus on June 9.