Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo steped away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to direct an independent film called “Cherry.” They tapped actor Tom Holland, who most audiences know as Spider-Man, to play their complicated leading man.

The Russo Brothers directed Holland in two of their Avengers films. Co-director Anthony Russo said their established relationship with Holland was a bonus in this new film.

What You Need To Know

  • Tom Holland says he loves a challenge and took on the role of an Iraq War veteran who becomes a drug addict

  • “Avengers: Endgame” directors pick their Spider-man, Tom Holland, to star in their new independent film “Cherry”

  • “Cherry” is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Nico Walker

“We have a very close relationship with him because when we cast him as Spider-Man he was still a teenager,” said Russo. “So from that moment, we had a very sort of protective relationship. We have a strong bond between us, and I think that dynamic really served us well in this movie.”

The film “Cherry” is based on the true story of Nico Walker, an Iraq War veteran who returns home with PTSD and becomes a drug-addicted bank robber. It’s a role unlike Holland has ever played.

“I love a challenge,” Holland said. “One of the things I love about my job is every film you make is very different. And this film, obviously as you can see, is very, very different to anything I've done before.”

Holland said the subject matter was new to him. 

“I didn't know particularly very much about the opioid crisis, or people suffering from PTSD, or you know, the lack of support that some people get when they come home from serving for their country,” said Holland.

The role called for Holland to transform his body to portray Walker over a 20-year span. He changes from a healthy soldier in Iraq to a strung-out addict at home.

“It was hard to grasp what he'd been through. I mean, it was really difficult to portray on screen. So I can only imagine how difficult it was to live it,” Holland said.

The Russo’s wanted to highlight the need for support for those addicted to drugs and the support they feel soldiers lack when they return from the battlefield.

“You alter your perspective on reality when you go to war, and when you come back you have to then shift back to a reality that had nothing to do with what happened over there,” said Joe Russo. “And it's very difficult, especially when, you know, you've been immersed in a life or death situation, violence.”