Tom Holland Plans to Dance Every Step Himself in the Fred Astaire Biopic — and He’s Already Filled With Dread

Tom Holland has barely finished one press tour before diving headfirst into preparation for his next major challenge — and what he’s revealed about his approach to the Fred Astaire biopic is as ambitious as anything he has taken on before.

Speaking on Good Morning America with George Stephanopoulos, the 30-year-old actor confirmed that the Fred Astaire biopic is his next planned project after completing his current back-to-back promotional commitments for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He revealed that he has already begun his first rehearsal sessions for the role — and that the experience left him feeling simultaneously thrilled and genuinely daunted by the task ahead, according to Variety.

The Commitment He’s Making

Holland was unambiguous about how he intends to approach the dancing in the film. He wants no stunt doubles involved at any point. He wants to perform every single dance sequence himself. And crucially, he wants those sequences shot the way Astaire himself would have insisted on filming them — in a single, uninterrupted take, with nowhere to hide and no editing tricks to mask any imperfection.

That approach is a direct tribute to one of Astaire’s most defining qualities as a performer. Throughout his career, Astaire famously insisted that his dance numbers be filmed in full, continuous shots from head to toe, so that audiences could see every step and movement in real time without cuts. Holland wants to honor that standard completely rather than rely on the tools modern filmmaking offers.

A Return to His Roots

What makes Holland’s commitment particularly meaningful is the personal history he brings to it. He spent two years — from 2008 to 2010 — performing the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical in London’s West End, an experience he has described as foundational to his entire career. After finishing that run, he walked away from dance entirely — something he told Live With Kelly and Mark is one of the biggest professional regrets of his life.

The Astaire biopic represents a chance to return to that world on the biggest possible stage. During rehearsals for the role, Holland has reportedly returned to the same central London dance studio where he first rehearsed for Billy Elliot years ago — a detail that gives the preparation an additional layer of personal significance.

A New Chapter Entirely

Holland also framed the project in the context of a broader career transition. He described The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day as representing the conclusion of the first chapter of his career — a period defined by superhero franchises and large ensemble productions. What he is looking for now, he said, are the kinds of roles that genuinely frighten him and push him somewhere new.

The Fred Astaire biopic, directed by Paul King and produced by Amy Pascal for Sony Pictures, was first announced in 2021. Filming is scheduled to begin in January 2027.