Florence Pugh says Tom Holland helped make her ‘Spider Man’ return happen

Florence Pugh has credited Tom Holland with helping bring her Marvel character Yelena Belova into Spider Man: Brand New Day, recalling how a comment from the actor helped spark excitement around the pairing.

Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Pugh said the opportunity grew from Holland publicly expressing his interest in working with her. She recalled that after Black Widow was released in 2021, Holland was asked at a red carpet event who he would like to appear alongside in a future film.

According to Pugh, Holland named her and specifically referenced her role as Yelena.

“This all happened because of Tom,” Pugh said, explaining that his comment helped fans become excited about the possibility of the two actors appearing together in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Pugh first played Yelena in Black Widow, where the character was introduced as Natasha Romanoff’s younger sister. She later reprised the role in Thunderbolts, before appearing alongside Holland in Spider Man: Brand New Day.

The latest film, starring Holland as Peter Parker, was released in cinemas on July 31, 2026. Pugh’s return as Yelena adds another established Marvel character to the film’s cast.

Spider Man: Brand New Day has also become a major box office success. The film has surpassed $936m at the North American box office, overtaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become the highest grossing domestic release of all time, according to Variety. Its worldwide total has reached approximately $2.45bn.

Pugh celebrated the film’s performance during her television appearance, congratulating Holland on its success.

The actress is continuing her work across several major projects. She is also set to return as Princess Irulan in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three. She is scheduled to reprise Yelena in Avengers: Doomsday, which is also due to feature Holland’s fellow Marvel stars.

Pugh’s comments offer a look at how an offhand public remark from Holland eventually became part of her journey with Yelena, connecting her character to one of Marvel’s biggest franchises