Tom Holland to Star in Sony Thriller 'Penthouse' From Drew Pearce

Tom Holland has had the kind of year most actors only dream about. He anchored one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters and appeared in another, and the box office numbers have been historic. Now the star is lining up what comes next, and it looks like a very different kind of movie.

Holland’s year included ‘The Odyssey’, in which he played Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s epic. It also included his fourth outing as Peter Parker in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, which opened July 31 and drew largely positive reviews. Together, those two films put him at the center of the summer movie conversation.

According to an exclusive from Deadline, Sony Pictures has pre-emptively bought ‘Penthouse’, an original idea by Drew Pearce. The film is being developed as a starring vehicle for Holland. His production company, Billy17, and Pearce’s company, Point of No Return, will produce.

Pearce will write the script based on his original idea, with Holland and his Billy17 partners playing an instrumental role in its development. The plot is under wraps, but the project is described as a thriller. Beyond that, no cast, director or release date has been announced.

Holland, his brother Harry Holland and Will South will produce for Billy17, alongside Pearce for Point of No Return. Ian Fisher will executive produce for Point of No Return. The roster shows how closely Holland is involved in the creative side.

Pearce is best known for writing ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’, ‘The Fall Guy’ and ‘Iron Man 3’. He also worked on ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ and ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’, and directed the futuristic thriller ‘Hotel Artemis’. He founded Point of No Return in 2019.

The deal builds on an already strong relationship. Billy17 has a producing deal with Sony Pictures, and Holland has starred in more than half a dozen Sony movies, including four ‘Spider-Man’ films and ‘Uncharted’. The studio clearly wants to keep him close.

That partnership has paid off in a big way. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, breaking domestic and global box office records. With that kind of success, it is easy to see why Sony wants to lock in its star for more projects.

Holland is also set to star in Sony’s untitled film about Fred Astaire. Margaret Qualley, Sabrina Carpenter and Talia Ryder were recently announced as co-stars, and Holland and Billy17 are among the producers. That project points to a very different side of his talent, centered on song and dance.

Add ‘Penthouse’ to the mix, and his slate shows a clear effort to avoid being typecast. Holland has also made clear that he is not leaving Spider-Man behind. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the ‘Brand New Day’ premiere, he said he would play the web-slinger “for as long as they’ll have me.”

A thriller from Pearce could be a good fit for Holland. Pearce’s work often blends action, humor and tightly built settings, as seen in ‘The Fall Guy’ and ‘Hotel Artemis’. The title itself hints at a contained, high-stakes story, though plot specifics have not been revealed.

It would also give Holland a chance to lead a film that is not tied to a franchise. His recent run of blockbusters has been impressive, but original thrillers can show a different range. With his company shaping the project from the start, he has more control over what the movie becomes.

Studios are increasingly keen to back stars who can also produce. Holland fits that mold, with a company that is already seeding projects at Sony. ‘Penthouse’ is another sign that Billy17 is becoming a serious player.

For now, details are scarce, and fans will have to wait for casting and a start date. But a mix of a proven star, a veteran writer and a studio eager to keep its biggest name is a promising combination.