Tom Holland’s Franchise Dilemma and Chalamet’s Rise to Prestige

Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet, two of the most recognisable young actors of their generation, have found themselves on sharply contrasting career trajectories. While Holland is closely associated with high-profile franchises, Chalamet has steadily carved out a reputation as a critical darling, moving from independent films to major productions with apparent ease.

Holland’s Franchise Bind

Holland’s breakthrough came with his portrayal of Spider-Man, first appearing in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. The role quickly became synonymous with his public persona, and he has since starred in three solo outings as the web-slinger. His off-screen relationship with co-star Zendaya, to whom he is now engaged, has only further cemented this association. For Holland, the challenge has been to step out from behind the mask and prove himself in other roles.

Despite the enormous box office success of his superhero ventures—Spider-Man: No Way Home alone took in $1.9 billion—his attempts to branch out have met with mixed results. Projects such as Chaos Walking, Cherry, and Uncharted failed to make a significant impact, and his voice work in films like Dolittle and Onward did little to shift perceptions. The one exception, his performance in the AppleTV+ series The Crowded Room, was praised, but the show itself was not well received, and the experience reportedly left Holland in need of a break from acting.

Lessons from Other Franchise Stars

Holland’s predicament is not unique. Other actors who have anchored major franchises, such as Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Henry Cavill (Superman), have also struggled to find similar success outside their signature roles. Evans’s post-Marvel projects, including The Gray Man, Ghosted, and Red One, have largely failed to resonate with audiences. Cavill’s recent outings, Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, were commercial disappointments. The pattern suggests that the shadow cast by a blockbuster franchise can be difficult to escape.

There are signs, however, that Holland is seeking to change course. He is set to appear in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, playing Telemachus alongside Matt Damon’s Odysseus. Given Nolan’s recent critical and commercial triumph with Oppenheimer, expectations are high for this new collaboration, and it may offer Holland the opportunity to redefine his career.

Chalamet’s Pursuit of Artistic Credibility

In contrast, Chalamet has taken a more varied approach, reminiscent of actors like Leonardo DiCaprio. He has worked with a range of acclaimed directors, including Luca Guadagnino, Greta Gerwig, Woody Allen, Denis Villeneuve, James Mangold, and Josh Safdie. Even before Holland’s involvement with Nolan, Chalamet had a small part in one of the director’s films, underscoring his early commitment to working with top-tier talent.

Chalamet’s recent performances have drawn considerable praise, particularly his turn in Marty Supreme, which critics have described as a defining moment in his career. Reflecting on his recent work, Chalamet remarked,

This is probably my best performance, and it’s been like seven, eight years that I feel like I’ve been handing in really, really committed, top-of-the-line performances. And it’s important to say out loud because the discipline and the work ethic I’m bringing to these things, I don’t want people to take for granted. I don’t want to take for granted. This is really some top-level sh*t.

Building Towards Box Office and Awards Success

Chalamet’s dedication to his craft is evident in the preparation he undertakes for each role. For Marty Supreme and A Complete Unknown, he spent years honing his skills, even practising table tennis at home during lockdown. He explained,

If anyone thinks this is cap, as the kids say — if anyone thinks this is made up — this is all documented, and it’ll be put out. These were the two spoiled projects where I got years to work on them. This is the truth. I was working on both these things concurrently.

With the Dune series, Chalamet has also demonstrated his ability to lead major productions. The first film grossed over $400 million, while Dune: Part Two surpassed $700 million, making it one of the standout releases of 2024. As he prepares for a third instalment, Chalamet is poised to become a box office draw in his own right, while continuing to earn critical acclaim. The coming years will see both actors take on new challenges, with Dune: Part Three, The Odyssey, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day all slated for release in 2026.