Zendaya and Tom Holland Say Being ‘Best Friends’ Makes Working Together Easy as _Spider-Man: Brand New Day_ Premieres in London

LONDON — Hollywood’s favorite power couple returned to the red carpet together on Wednesday night for the UK premiere of _Spider-Man: Brand New Day_ in Leicester Square, with hundreds of fans turning out to see Tom Holland and Zendaya.

It’s been a big year for both. The pair recently got married, and they’re also set to star together in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic _The Odyssey_. But on Wednesday, the focus was back on Peter Parker and MJ.

Speaking to the BBC on the white carpet, Zendaya was asked what her advice is for working with your husband.

Holland, 30, reprises his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man for the fourth time in the franchise, a role he’s played since 2016. Zendaya, 29, returns as MJ, Peter’s love interest.

“It’s really fun,” Holland said of being back on set. “We’ve played these characters for ten years, we’ve loved every minute of it. Any time you’re playing a character and there’s something new and fresh to bring to the table, it’s always so welcome, and it was just like a really fun acting exercise.”

In _Brand New Day_, the story picks up after the events of 2021’s _No Way Home_. At the end of that film, Peter made the choice to have everyone forget who he is. That means in this new chapter, even his closest friends and MJ no longer remember him. The film explores how Peter navigates that loss while still trying to be Spider-Man.

But he did say he feels grateful to be part of the Marvel universe and has “an endless list” of characters he’d love to team up with next.

“I feel so blessed to be a part of this world and I’ve been so lucky to share the screen with so many people,” he added.

As usual, Zendaya turned heads for fashion as much as for the film. For the London premiere she wore a floor-length Tamara Ralph champagne silk crepe gown with delicate, web-like straps — a clear nod to Spider-Man that matched the white carpet in Leicester Square.

Zendaya has become known for “method dressing” during press tours, choosing outfits that echo the themes of the films she’s promoting.

“I love these films, I love making them, I love being able to extend the filmmaking process and the storytelling process through the press tour and the clothes and through fashion,” she said.

When asked if there were any hidden clues about the plot in her dress, she laughed and said, “I can’t say that. Read into it how you will!”

She credited her longtime stylist Law Roach for helping shape the looks. Over the past year Zendaya’s fashion has become a talking point in its own right, with each premiere outfit dissected online within minutes.

_Brand New Day_ also introduces new cast members, including _Stranger Things_ star Sadie Sink in a mystery role that the studio has kept tightly under wraps. Sink did not attend the London premiere, and she hasn’t revealed who she’s playing. Online speculation has been running wild for weeks.

The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and also stars Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo.

Early reviews have been largely positive. _The Independent_ called it “the best Spider-Man movie in more than 20 years” and gave it four stars. _The Telegraph_ also awarded four stars, saying it “restores the gawkiness the franchise has been missing.” _The Hollywood Reporter_ praised how it “balances self-reflection with action.”

_The Guardian_ was a bit cooler with three stars, but critic Peter Bradshaw singled out Zendaya, saying she “saves” the film.

The bar is high. The last Spider-Man film, _No Way Home_, grossed $1.9 billion worldwide and became one of the biggest movies ever.

Beyond Spider-Man, it’s been a milestone year for Holland and Zendaya. The couple, who met on the set of the first _Spider-Man: Homecoming_ in 2016, recently married. They’re also filming together for Nolan’s _The Odyssey_, another massive project that’s kept them busy across continents.

Their decade-long on-screen and off-screen relationship has made them one of the most followed young couples in Hollywood. From red carpets to interviews, they often talk about how their friendship came first.

When you’ve known someone for ten years, through blockbusters and breakups and everything in between, the job part gets easier.

Brand New Day_ is now playing in UK cinemas. For Holland, the film represents both a continuation and a possible turning point for Peter Parker. For Zendaya, it’s another chance to bring depth to MJ while also using fashion to tell part of the story.

Whether this is Holland’s final swing as Spider-Man remains to be seen. But both stars made it clear on Wednesday that they’re enjoying the ride — together.

“We’ve loved every minute of it,” Holland said. And with Zendaya by his side, calling him her best friend first, it sounds like there are plenty more minutes to come.