Here’s How Tom Holland Really Feels About Dancing Again for Fred Astaire Biopic

Published: June 5, 2026

By India McCarty

Tom Holland’s long-awaited Fred Astaire biopic is finally getting underway.

“Last week I did my first dance rehearsal for the Fred Astaire movie that we’re doing next year,” he revealed while appearing on the “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” podcast.

Holland has a long history with dance; he got his start in acting when a dance teacher arranged for him to audition for a production of “Billy Elliot The Musical.” After joining the cast as a supporting character, he was later upgraded to the titular role.

However, Holland admitted he was still “nervous” to start dance rehearsals for the Fred Astaire movie, as it was the “first time I’ve worn tap shoes in 15 years.”

“What was so amazing is how it really does live in you,” Holland said of his dancing ability. “Like, the music started and then it all started coming back and I could see the lights, I could see the audience. And without even having to think of what the first step was, it just happened naturally.”

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The SPIDER-MAN star continued, “After that rehearsal…any fears I had or any questions of like, ‘should I be making this movie?’ completely left the room. Because I think my biggest regret in my career so far is that when I finished that show, I quit dancing. And I just, you know, would dance in a club or something like that, but wouldn’t go and take class. And the thing I love most about my job is that you can book a film and learn all of these amazing skills from the best people in the business. And to be able to do that again — pick up dancing from square one and try to get back into it — I think it’s going to be so fulfilling.”

The project has been in the works for some time now; the biopic was initially announced in 2021.

“I am playing Fred Astaire,” Holland told the AP at the time. “The script came in a week ago; I haven’t read it yet. They haven’t given it to me. I know Amy Pascal [a longtime Sony exec] has the script. She Facetimed me earlier when I was in the bath and we had a lovely Facetime. But I will be playing Fred Astaire.”

Holland’s project isn’t the only chance to see Astaire’s story on the big screen. Jamie Bell, who also played Billy Elliot in the movie version of the stage show, is set to play the dancer opposite Margaret Qualley as Ginger Rogers in FRED & GINGER.

“Margaret and Jamie were born to portray this legendary dance duo,” said producer Fred Berger, per Deadline. “We’re so excited to give people a big joyous event — brimming with spectacle and heart — that will leave you smiling, crying, and dancing out of the theater.”

Fans of Holland are excited to see the SPIDER-MAN star return to his dancing roots for this upcoming biopic.

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