Tom Holland said he wants the Marvel Cinematic Universe to replicate the quality of the symbiote suit found in the Spider-Man video games [1, 2].
The actor's comments highlight the growing influence of interactive media on major film productions and the technical challenges of translating digital assets to live-action. As fans anticipate the arrival of the black suit in the film series, the benchmark for success has shifted toward the high-fidelity visuals of gaming.
Speaking during an interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast and in a separate discussion with IGN Benelux, Holland said he admires the execution of the suit in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 [2, 3]. He said he is uncertain whether live-action cinema can match the specific aesthetic and movement of the game's version [1, 2].
Holland said the video game rendered the symbiote suit well and wants the MCU to achieve a comparable level of quality [2]. However, he said he doubts such a feat can be accomplished easily in a movie setting [1, 2].
This appreciation for the gaming franchise is shared by other members of the cast. When discussing the series, “We love the games, the games are absolutely sensational,” Holland said [4].
The symbiote suit, a staple of the comic books, allows for a distinct visual and psychological shift in the character. By referencing the Insomniac games, Holland suggests that the digital medium has set a standard for the suit's fluidity and texture that may surpass traditional costume and CGI methods used in filmmaking [1, 2].
““We love the games, the games are absolutely sensational,””
This intersection of gaming and cinema reflects a broader trend where high-budget video games now serve as visual prototypes for movie studios. Because the symbiote suit requires a level of organic movement and texture that differs from standard fabric, the MCU faces a technical hurdle in satisfying a fanbase that has already seen a highly polished, digital version of the character's transformation.
