Tom Holland accidentally spoiled Robert Downey Jr's MCU return to Zendaya

Tom Holland may have once again lived up to his reputation for leaking Marvel secrets — this time with Zendaya as his audience.

The Spider-Man accidentally revealed Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to his fiancée long before the announcement was made public. Holland admitted that his tendency to spoil surprises got the better of him, despite Marvel’s notorious secrecy. 

Speaking to TheWrap while promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Holland recalled that he had been sworn to secrecy about Downey’s involvement in Avengers: Doomsday. However, he couldn’t resist sharing the news with Zendaya, who stars alongside him as MJ in the Spider-Man films.

“I told Zendaya immediately,” Holland said, joking that keeping such a major development to himself was impossible. The actor has long been known among Marvel fans for accidentally revealing plot details, prompting the studio to take extra precautions with scripts and press appearances.

Downey’s return was officially announced during San Diego Comic-Con in July 2025, with the Oscar winner set to portray Doctor Doom rather than reprise his iconic role as Tony Stark. The reveal marked one of the biggest surprises in Marvel Studios history and signalled a new direction for the franchise.

Holland also praised Downey’s return, saying he was thrilled to have the actor back in the Marvel family. The two first shared the screen in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, with Downey serving as a mentor both on and off screen to the younger actor.

The actor's confession amused fans familiar with his history of accidentally leaking information. Over the years, Holland has revealed everything from movie titles to major plot details, earning him a playful reputation as Marvel’s least reliable keeper of secrets.

Fortunately for Marvel Studios, Holland’s revelation to Zendaya stayed within the family. By the time Downey’s comeback was officially announced, the secret was still intact, even if one person outside the studio had known all along.