Tom Holland exposes surprising truth behind Spider-Man costume after ‘Brand New Day’

New costume design also lets cameras capture his eyes through mask, adding extra emotion to key scenes perfectly

Tom Holland has lifted the curtain on one of the least glamorous parts of playing Marvel's iconic web slinger, admitting that the Spider Man suit can become unbearable after long days of filming. While audiences only see the polished final result on screen, the actor revealed that spending up to 12 hours inside the costume comes with some very real challenges.

Speaking during a promotional interview for Spider Man: Brand New Day, Holland said the biggest issue with wearing the superhero outfit has always been the smell. After hours of physical action, repeated jumps and maintaining demanding poses, the costume becomes far less heroic behind the scenes.

"You spend 12 hours in that thing in a deep lunge, jumping up and down all day," Holland said, adding with a laugh that the smell is "definitely the worst thing".

Despite the discomfort, Spider Man: Brand New Day introduced several practical improvements that made life considerably easier for the actor. Holland explained that he worked closely with director Destin Daniel Cretton and the costume department before filming began, reviewing previous Spider Man costumes to identify what worked best.

As part of that process, Holland tried on the suits previously worn by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The goal was to create a design that honoured earlier versions of Spider Man while improving comfort and functionality for modern production demands.

"The idea behind the design of the suit was to try and make an homage to the things we loved about those original costumes," Holland explained.

One of the most noticeable upgrades involved simple everyday practicality. Holland revealed that this is the first Spider Man film in which he could comfortably use the bathroom while wearing the redesigned costume. He also gained the ability to remove his mask more easily and drink water without the lengthy process required by earlier versions.

Those changes also improved communication during filming. Holland said speaking with a director while fully masked can make normal conversations difficult, so the redesigned costume helped create a smoother working environment between takes.

Another innovation benefited both the filmmakers and audiences. The new mask uses specially designed lenses that allow cameras to capture Holland's eyes beneath the costume under certain lighting conditions. According to the actor, this subtle visual improvement helps make Spider Man feel more human by allowing viewers to see emotional expressions even when his face remains covered.

The updated suit also features natural folds and movement rather than appearing perfectly rigid throughout every scene. Co star Zendaya praised that approach, saying she loved the imperfections built into the costume because they gave the superhero a more authentic appearance.

Spider Man: Brand New Day marks Holland's latest outing as Peter Parker following the global success of Spider Man: No Way Home. The latest film continues his collaboration with Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures while introducing a refreshed costume that balances nostalgia with practical improvements.