Tom Holland may not have attended D23 in person, but the Spider-Man star still made a special appearance at the major Disney fan event through a heartfelt video message.
The 30-year-old actor appeared on screen during the “Celebrate 65 Years of Marvel’s Spider-Man!” panel on Saturday, August 15, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
Rather than focusing only on the superhero franchise’s enormous success, Holland used his message to reflect on his personal connection with the character and the childhood dream that eventually became a reality.
Tom Holland Reflects on His Spider-Man Journey
Speaking to the D23 audience through the pre-recorded video, Holland admitted that being part of Spider-Man’s long-running legacy still feels somewhat surreal.
“The legacy of this character is incredible and honestly still a bit surreal,” the actor said, reflecting on the significance of portraying one of Marvel’s most recognisable characters.
Holland first appeared as Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Captain America: Civil War in 2016. He subsequently returned as the character in several Marvel films, including the hugely successful Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
His portrayal of the young superhero has since become closely associated with the modern version of Spider-Man.
Playing Peter Parker Was His Childhood Dream
Holland also revealed that his desire to play Peter Parker began long before he was selected for the role.
According to the actor, old videos exist of him talking about his ambition to portray Spider-Man when he was still a child.
“I think that there are videos of me floating around as a kid saying that playing Peter Parker is my dream,” Holland said.
For the actor, eventually being given the opportunity to play the character therefore represented much more than simply landing a major Hollywood role.
“Getting to live that dream has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” he added.
His comments offered fans a more personal perspective on his decade-long association with the character, particularly as Spider-Man continues to play an important role in his career.
Tom Holland sent a video message to D23’s ‘65 YEARS OF SPIDER-MAN’ panel!
pic.twitter.com/duXucE3BIM— best of tom holland (@thollandrchives) August 15, 2026
Holland Misses D23 Panel in Person
Although Holland did not attend the event physically, his recorded appearance was included as part of the special Spider-Man celebration.
The D23 panel brought together several figures connected to the character and the wider Marvel universe, including Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Jacob Batalon and Jeff Trammell.
Holland concluded his message by sending his best wishes to the audience gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center.
“So have an incredible D23 and from everyone over here, lots of love,” he told fans.
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New Spider-Man Movie on the Way
Holland’s appearance comes as anticipation continues to build around his next Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The upcoming movie will continue his story as Peter Parker and represents another major chapter in Holland’s journey with the character.
While details surrounding the film have been closely guarded, the actor’s continued involvement ensures that his version of Spider-Man remains an important part of Marvel’s plans.
For fans at D23, however, Holland’s short message was about more than an upcoming movie. His reflection on childhood videos and the dream of becoming Peter Parker offered a reminder of just how personally meaningful the role has been for the actor.
After years of portraying one of Marvel’s most beloved heroes, Holland now finds himself celebrating the character’s 65-year legacy while also continuing to contribute to its next chapter.
