‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Star Tom Holland’s “Impossible to Scare” Claim Aged Terribly Once Jake Gyllenhaal Got Involved

Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal built one of the most entertaining on-screen and off-screen dynamics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe during their time promoting ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ and clips from that era continue to resurface online years later

Their chemistry extended far beyond scripted scenes, spilling into a seemingly endless string of interviews, pranks, and joint appearances that fans still revisit today. One particular moment from that 2019 press tour has recently made its way back into circulation, reminding everyone just how much fun the two actors had at each other’s expense.

That moment centers on a bold claim Holland made about his own nerves, one that Gyllenhaal wasted no time putting to the test. During a stop at Disney’s California Adventure theme park as part of the film’s promotional rollout, Holland insisted he was essentially impossible to rattle, a declaration that practically dared his co-star to prove otherwise.

Gyllenhaal, never one to pass up a good prank opportunity, took the bait almost immediately. Gyllenhaal set up the moment by casually asking Holland what actually scared him, lulling his co-star into a false sense of security before suddenly yelling to startle him on the spot.

The plan worked exactly as intended. Holland visibly jumped in surprise, breaking character just long enough to jokingly express his displeasure with his co-star for pulling off the stunt so effectively. The exchange took place with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon also present for the outing, adding to the loose, playful energy that defined much of that particular press tour.

That Disneyland outing was just one piece of a much larger pattern of chemistry between Holland and Gyllenhaal throughout the ‘Far From Home’ promotional cycle. The pair also famously took part in a viral handstand challenge, traded impressions of animals and other actors during a joint interview, and even bonded over a grueling workout session in China that reportedly left Holland unable to walk properly for his next scheduled interview.

Gyllenhaal, who played the villainous Mysterio in the film, had already built a reputation around that time for getting spooked easily during talk show appearances, making his role as the instigator in this particular moment feel like a bit of playful role reversal. Watching him flip the script on Holland only added to why fans found the exchange so entertaining in the first place, and why it continues to resurface years after the film’s original release.

Moments like this help explain why Holland and Gyllenhaal’s on-screen rivalry as Spider-Man and Mysterio translated so well to genuine audience affection off-screen. Their easy rapport during press tours became almost as memorable as the film itself, contributing to why ‘Far From Home’ remains a fondly remembered chapter in Holland’s run as Peter Parker.

With clips like this still circulating years later, it’s clear the internet hasn’t lost its appetite for revisiting this particular era of Marvel press tours. Whether Holland has learned his lesson about making bold claims around Gyllenhaal remains an open question, but fans certainly haven’t stopped enjoying the results when he doesn’t.

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