The meaning behind Tom Holland’s new Spider-Man suit

In new photos from the set of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day', Tom Holland's new spidey suit marks a 'back-to-basics' era for the superhero

By Tyler Dane Wingco

Published: Aug 5, 2025

Image: Marvel

IN THE FABLED SCENE in the 2002 Spider-Man where Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker is sketching up his new suit, it’s as if the teen had the image of comic book artist Steve Ditko’s original drawing in his mind already. He nailed the colour scheme, inking the page with a rich blue, cardinal red, and laced it with the trademark black webbing. But by the time his proper suit arrived (with what funds, we ask, from this kid from Queens), it looked more like metallic long johns you’d scale a mountain in. In other words, it wasn’t comic book accurate. Andrew Garfield’s suit had a similarly superfluous treatment with an abundance of webbing details and the shine of a Moncler vest.

But when Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and the franchise’s movie rights, entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, it signified a vibe shift toward a more comic-accurate web-slinger. Even the late Stan Lee expressed strong approval of Holland’s casting at the time; the British actor also has a perennial babyface. Sure, his suits in his solo outings (Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home) are characterised as tech-y, but that simply suited a Peter Parker as tech billionaire Tony Stark/Iron Man’s (Robert Downey Jr.) apprentice.

It’s no spoiler that it’s been six years since Stark has been out of the MCU picture, and four years since the events of No Way Home. So, what’s Holland’s Peter Parker been up to? For one, he’s got a new suit.

Tom Holland on top of a tank on set with director Destin Daniel Cretton. Image: INSTAGRAM | tomholland2013

What makes Tom Holland’s new Spider-Man suit special?

Filming in Glasgow, Scotland, as we speak (New York seems to be full of movie sets with The Devil Wears Prada sequel, American Love Story, et al.), Holland has suited up for Spider-Man: Brand New Day in a new version of the iconic costume in what’s being described as ‘back-to-basics Spider-Man’.

The obvious difference with the new suit is the absence of decorations we’ve seen prior. We’re seeing solid shapes and colours contouring Holland’s his body; the spider logo on his chest harks back to Maguire’s and Garfield’s. The black eyeliner, if you will, on his mask seems thicker, unlike the beady white monstrosities of his predecessor’s.

But the most important part of the costume is the fabric. In new photos, his poses and landing stance read more dynamic because the costume is made of cloth. It’s none of those egregious CGI costumes that they’ll render his costume onto in post-production. Neither is the body armour of Maguire and Garfield’s with an aggressively moulded eight-pack. This is the friendly (attired) neighbourhood Spider-Man that fans of the 63-year-old superhero have been waiting to see on screen.

Image: INSTAGRAM | tomholland2013

The internet reacts to Tom Holland’s new Spider-Man costume

One critic whom I like to pay attention to is Grace Randolph of Beyond the Trailer. Known for putting bad comic book adaptations in their place, she simply tweeted “That looks pretty amazing” to Holland in the suit.

That looks pretty amazing #SpiderManBrandNewDay pic.twitter.com/Nsjc5ss2ey
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) August 3, 2025

Marvel released a 22-second teaser of Holland hyping himself up in the suit. “You ready?” he asks someone off-screen in his character’s American accent.

What will happen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Picking up after the multiversal events of No Way Home, the world has forgotten about Spider-Man. And that also includes his friends Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya). The last movie ended with Peter visiting MJ at her part-time job at a bagel shop, as she served him at the counter with a blank face.

What’s filling his days now? He’s left the multiverse and Avenger-level threats behind, focusing on city-level crime and serving the five boroughs.