Tom Holland has recalled a failed attempt by Jon Bernthal to get him to embrace method acting.
The story dates back to the duo’s time filming “Pilgrimage,” where Bernthal’s character was mute, and Holland tried to help him stay in character while they were off-set.
The pair have since reunited on two major projects, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey.”
Appearing on “Hot Ones,” Holland recalled his time filming “Pilgrimage” with Bernthal, who fully committed to method acting by refusing to speak off camera because his character was mute.
Before production began, the “Punisher” star told Holland, “I’m going to go full method… I’m going to need your help.” Holland agreed, but the experiment soon became awkward, especially whenever they went out to eat.
“For like two weeks, not a peep out of him,” Holland recalled. “And we all know Jon Bernthal. We all love Jon Bernthal. My man loves to talk. So, we’re sat at restaurants, and he’s writing down his food, and these are regular restaurants in Ireland.”
According to Holland, the awkwardness of the situation forced him to explain Bernthal’s unusual behavior to confused staff, joking, “I’m sorry about my friend. He’s just a pretentious actor.”
A Salmon Order Ended Bernthal’s Method Acting Streak
Bernthal’s commitment to method acting came to an abrupt end during one of their restaurant visits in Ireland.
After weeks of communicating only through written notes, he asked Holland to request some lemon for his salmon. However, the waitress misunderstood and dropped the lemon into Bernthal’s glass of water instead.
The mix-up proved too much for the actor to endure in silence. Recalling the moment, Holland said Bernthal immediately blurted out, “All right, f-ck it. I’m talking again,” bringing his self-imposed vow of silence to an end.
Tom Holland And Jon Bernthal Reunited For Two Major Projects
After starring together in “Pilgrimage” in 2017, Holland and Bernthal did not share the screen again until recently, when they reunited on two back-to-back projects.
In “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the duo plays superheroes, with Holland reprising his role as Spider-Man while the film marks Bernthal’s big-screen MCU debut as the Punisher after years of portraying the character on television.
The two also appear together in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which debuted in cinemas on July 17. Holland plays the more prominent role of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon. Meanwhile, Bernthal stars as Menelaus, the King of Sparta, who appears in only a few key scenes.
Tom Holland Is ‘Absolutely Loving’ His Latest Press Tour
Holland’s appearance alongside Bernthal is just one of several promotional stops he has made while supporting the release of his latest films.
Although balancing both projects has kept his schedule packed, the actor said he is relishing the busy period because he is immensely proud of both productions.
“I’m absolutely loving it. When you’re doing press for movies you’re really proud of, it’s really easy,” the actor said during an appearance on the “Dish” podcast.
He added, “Because when they ask you questions about why people should go and watch this movie, you’re not lying to anyone. You really think people should go see it. I’ve had experiences before when people say, ‘Why should you see this movie?’ And in the back of your mind, you’re like, ‘You shouldn’t, because it’s sh-t.’”
‘The Odyssey’ And ‘Spider-Man’ Chase Major Box Office Milestones
Despite facing early criticism before its release, “The Odyssey” has enjoyed a strong start at the box office.
The film grossed more than $264 million during its opening weekend, with ticket sales split almost evenly between domestic and international markets. Now in its second week, “The Odyssey” is on course to surpass the $500 million mark worldwide, putting it on track to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
Meanwhile, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is set to arrive in cinemas on July 31 and is already predicted to post record-breaking box office numbers, given the success of Holland’s previous Spider-Man films. Two of the earlier installments surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, while the third still earned an impressive $880 million worldwide.