Sony Pictures is making sure it stays in the Tom Holland business, and for good reason. Deadline reports it has pre-emptively acquired Penthouse, an original thriller from Drew Pearce that is being designed as a starring vehicle for Holland. The actor will produce through his Billy17 label.
And why wouldn’t Sony do this? Spider-Man: Brand New Day has earned over $2B this year, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time domestically. It’s already moving forward on Holland’s passion project, a Fred Astaire biopic with Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter.
Plot details are under wraps. Pearce will write the screenplay, but no clue if he’ll direct. He’s mainly known for his screenplays for Iron Man 3, Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation, and The Fall Guy. He wrote Michael B. Jordan’s upcoming remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. He directed one feature, 2018’s Hotel Artemis, so he’s due for a comeback.
Holland has won me over with his performances lately, but I have to admit that a thriller does not seem like his bag. We’ll see. Pearce will clearly tailor the material to his strengths, and Holland’s team is said to be involved in the creative process.
