Tom Holland reveals extreme preparation for shirtless ‘Spider-Man’ bathhouse scene left him ‘really grumpy’

Tom Holland has shared an honest behind the scenes story about preparing for one of the most talked about moments in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, revealing that an extreme dehydration routine left him frustrated rather than delivering the results he had hoped for.

Speaking about the film, Holland explained that he attempted a common physique preparation method before filming a shirtless bathhouse sequence alongside Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova. The actor said he avoided drinking water the day before shooting before consuming a large amount beforehand, hoping it would make his physique appear more defined on camera.

Instead, Holland admitted the experiment was far from successful.

"I had tried to do that stupid dehydration thing for that scene," he said. "I tried to see if it would make a difference, and the only thing it did is it just made me really grumpy."

He added that the effort was ultimately not worthwhile because he does not believe it noticeably changed his appearance on screen.

The sequence features Peter Parker visiting Yelena Belova at a Russian bathhouse while searching for information about the mysterious threat at the centre of the film. Before speaking with him, Yelena orders Spider-Man to remove any concealed weapons, leading to a memorable scene in which Peter strips down to his underwear while keeping his iconic mask on.

Holland praised Florence Pugh for making the filming experience enjoyable despite the unusual circumstances. He described working with her as a pleasure and said she was "the funniest person in the room", helping the scene come together smoothly.

The bathhouse moment has also reminded many fans of the Marvel's Spider-Man video games, where players can unlock an outfit featuring Spider-Man wearing only his mask and underwear. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige acknowledged that several action shots throughout the film were inspired by the popular games, although he stopped short of confirming whether this particular moment was intended as a direct reference. Holland also playfully avoided giving a definitive answer.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows Peter Parker after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the world no longer remembers his identity. As Peter struggles with isolation and grief following Aunt May's death, his life takes another dramatic turn when changes in his spider abilities coincide with the emergence of a powerful mind controlling enemy. The film also stars Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Florence Pugh, Sadie Sink, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, Marisa Tomei and Michael Mando.