Entertainment
The Most Wholesome Marvel Superhero Actor Became A Studio’s Biggest Supervillain
By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated
From the moment that he popped up as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, Marvel fans have absolutely loved Tom Holland. It’s hard not to, really; his Peter Parker is a humble, stumbling geek when he’s not thwipping his way through one supervillain fight after another. Offscreen, Holland always comes across just as affable as his onscreen persona, and he has more charisma than Spidey has web-fluid. So much charisma, in fact, that he managed to transform Zendaya, his onscreen love interest, into his real-life fiancée. But would you believe that Marvel’s most wholesome hero has a secret dark side?
No, I’m not talking about the Venom symbiote, which has yet to become a going concern in the MCU. But Tom Holland showed off his inner supervillain recently when he was confronted with an old, explosive quote of his: “If I’m playing Spider-Man after I’m 30, I’ve done something wrong.” Now that the actor is 30 years old, he admitted that he had a “strategy to create fear” among Sony executives so that he could get more money from the studio!
A Hero Is (Re)Born
Back in 2021, Tom Holland gave an interview to GQ Magazine. There, he made a very shocking statement: “If I’m playing Spider-Man after I’m 30, I’ve done something wrong.” What made the quote so shocking was the very idea that someone as young as Holland would voluntarily walk away from the biggest cinematic universe ever created. At the time, Marvel still had a well-earned reputation as a money-printing machine, and Holland was playing its most beloved superhero. While many thought he was foolish to toy with the idea of throwing it all away, some thought it was a sign of integrity that Holland might potentially turn away millions upon millions of dollars to avoid being typecast.
Everything came full circle when he gave a more recent interview to GQ. When asked about his old quote, he said that he had recently been “trying to remember what I meant” and clarified that his main point was “that I would love to pass the baton on.” Acknowledging that he should shift his Spider-Man retirement age to 37 instead of 30, he then threw out another possible motivation for his controversial quote. “I could also have been trying to leverage Sony and scare them into thinking I wasn’t going to do ‘Spider-Man 4’ now that I had a new deal on the horizon,” he said. “It could’ve been part of a strategy to create fear.”
In His Villain Era
Tom Holland isn’t confirming this was his plan. Still, what he threw out is hilariously sinister coming from Marvel’s most wholesome actor. At the time, everyone thought that he was either really brave or really stupid to act like he was too good for a role most actors would kill to have. Now, he just casually admitted that this might have been a plan to land himself a bigger paycheck for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is coming out this summer. When he and Zendaya finally tie the knot, he might be able to treat her to an extravagant honeymoon, all because he secretly bullied Sony into giving him more money!
Now, though, the not-so-young man is past playing head games with the studio. In his most recent GQ interview, he admitted that “playing Spider-Man has been the joy of my life … I’ll do it for as long as they’ll have me.” That’s likely good news for Kevin Feige, as most assume Holland’s Spider-Man will be a central MCU character after Avengers: Secret Wars reboots this cinematic universe. After all, he’s still much younger than other Marvel stars like Hugh Jackman, who would probably never mouth off to the studio. In fact, if Jackman is still playing Wolverine when he’s 90, he’ll have done something very, very right!
Entertainment
How to watch Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Wimbledon has been fun, sweaty, and shocking in 2026. We’ve been treated to some electric tennis, shock results, and top players delivering when it counts.
Sinner now faces off against Zverev in the final game of the tournament. Sinner is seeking his fifth Grand Slam title and his second at Wimbledon. Zverez is looking to build on his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open. It’s going to be a fascinating battle between two guys at the top of their game.
If you want to watch Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is Sinner vs. Zverev?
Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is set to take place at 4 p.m. BST on July 12.
How to watch Sinner vs. Zverev for free
Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
Mashable Top Stories
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:
-
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
-
Visit BBC iPlayer
-
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
-
Up to eight simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Wimbledon final for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
This educational kids app gives parents a much-needed break — and now it’s $60 for life
TL;DR: Lock in a lifetime of educational fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99 (reg. $250).
Have you had a sip of hot coffee this summer break? If not, you might want to check out Pok Pok. It’s an educational app that offers a guilt-free screen option for kids ages 2-8, so you can get a little break when you need it.
Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $59.99.
Mashable Deals
Pok Pok is an award-winning app that gives busy parents everywhere a chance to cook dinner, answer some emails, or just enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning while their little ones enjoy some educational content. It takes a Montessori approach to learning, so kids can navigate it independently.
Mashable Trend Report
Montessori-inspired learning means there is no winning or losing and no rules, levels, or objectives. Kids can just open Pok Pok, tap a toy, and start exploring categories like space, dinosaurs, numbers, and shapes. This open-ended play setup can grow with your kids, so they can enjoy the app for years.
As your kids play, you can rest easy knowing the app was developed in collaboration with early childhood experts and designed to be calming and non-addictive, featuring hand-drawn animations and in-house-made sound effects.
Pok Pok is COPPA-certified, ad-free, and GDPR-compliant, so they won’t be tricked into making any purchases. A lifetime subscription also includes access to regular updates, so kids will always have something new to explore. This subscription also includes an exclusive surprise gift that will show up at your address.
Let your kids explore while you take a break thanks to this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $145 ASUS Chromebook is a laptop and tablet in one
TL;DR: Get two gadgets in one with this ASUS Chromebook CM30, on sale now for only $144.97 (reg. $369.99) through July 19.
$144.97
$369.99
Save $225.02
If you’re in the market for a laptop and a tablet, you have a pretty steep price tag ahead of you. The ASUS Chromebook CM30 solves for that, giving you two devices in one thanks to a detachable keyboard.
Right now, you can bring home this multitasking device for less than you would pay for just one of those items — $144.97 — until July 19.
Mashable Deals
The world asks a lot of us these days. Since we’re all used to multitasking, our devices should be able to do it too. This ASUS Chromebook CM30 is up to the task — offering an easy way to switch from a productivity laptop to a relaxation tablet in just a few seconds.
The ASUS Chromebook is a 2-in-1 device powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, delivering smooth, efficient performance. 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage let you multitask, save files locally, and have enough room for your favorite apps.
The 10.5-inch touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive touch control and easily detaches from the keyboard to provide a sleeker user experience. There’s also a garaged stylus with fast-charging technology that lets you change things up when you’re tired of tapping.
This Chromebook arrives running Chrome OS, an efficient operating system for today’s busy world. There are also dual 5MP front and rear cameras for capturing images and hopping on video calls.
You’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and plenty of ports for your connectivity needs. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 help you connect anywhere, and you can rest easy taking this ASUS Chromebook along with you thanks to its military-grade aluminum chassis that offers rugged protection on the go.
Mashable Deals
You’re saving over $200 thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing on the case.
Bring home an ASUS Chromebook CM30 for just $144.97 today.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski added to NL All-Star team
Esmerlyn Valdez's six RBIs leads Pirates over Brewers
