'Spider-Man' producer says she warned Tom Holland and Zendaya not to date
The latest Spider-Man movie, "No Way Home," brings together nearly 20 years of superhero film nostalgia, and one producer is recalling the advice she gave the various actors who have played Peter Parker and his romantic interest.
Amy Pascal, who has produced all of Tom Holland's Spidey trilogy as well as both Venom movies and 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," told The New York Times she warned told Holland and Zendaya, among others, not to date in real life.
"I took Tom and Zendaya aside, separately, when we first cast them and gave them a lecture," Pascal said. "Don't go there -- just don't. Try not to."
Clearly Pascal's advice didn't stick, as the two have been reportedly dating for months. Despite regularly praising each other publicly and being spotted looking like more than friends, the rumored couple have yet to officially announce that they're together.
It wouldn't be the first time a Spider-Man actor and the woman romancing him on the big screen have dated in real life: Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst dated as well as Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.
"It can just complicate things, you know?" Pascal said about co-stars entering into actual relationships. "And they all ignored me."
"Spider-Man: No Way Home" appears to be a success, as evidenced by its opening weekend box office totals. The film earned $260 million domestically, beating predictions, to make it the second-highest domestic opening of all time, according to Deadline. It's only behind "Avengers: Endgame," which earned $357.1 domestically in its opening weekend.
It's also the first pandemic-era movie to debut at more than $100 million domestically despite increasing concerns over the COVID-19 omicron variant.
In addition to Holland and Zendaya, "No Way Home" stars Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei and Benedict Cumberbatch as well as familiar villains from previous Spider-Man films.
