Tom Holland stunt halts Spider-Man production as on-set injuries echo through Hollywood

Tom Holland was rushed to hospital after a stunt on the set of a high-profile Marvel Studios production at Leavesden Studios in Watford, according to people familiar with the matter. The 29-year-old actor reportedly suffered a concussion after a fall during filming of what is described as Holland's fourth Spider-Man installment. A spokesperson for the project said production is paused while he recovers, and Holland’s father, Dominic Holland, said his son would be away from filming for a while. The film, budgeted at about £150 million, is part of a broader Spider-Man arc that has kept fans watching while studios manage risk on a crowded slate of superhero projects.

The stoppage at Leavesden comes as studios weigh safety on sets where action-heavy scenes are routine. A production schedule for the Marvel movie has been put on hold for several weeks as the team reevaluates stunts and medical readiness before resuming work. The incident underscores the hazards inherent to big-budget filmmaking, where complex sequences push performers and crews to their physical limits.

The broader history of Hollywood stunts features a string of near-misses and serious injuries that have punctuated iconic productions. Sylvester Stallone has described a life-threatening moment during Rocky IV, when a fight sequence with Dolph Lundgren left him with a swollen heart and doctors fearing he might be "talking to angels." Stallone recalled being in intensive care with nuns praying by his bedside after the punch that allegedly pulverized his heart; Lundgren has also weighed in, saying the two had to rework the scene after the injury and the producer ultimately pulled back on the schedule.

Isla Fisher faced a perilous moment while filming Now You See Me, in which she played an escapologist performing a Houdini-style water-tank escape. Despite rehearsals, her chains became stuck to the tank floor and she could not reach a safety valve in time. The tank drained only after a stunt coordinator realized she was in danger, and Fisher later called the incident a near-death experience, though she joked about the moment afterward.

Brendan Fraser has recounted nearly dying during The Mummy’s 1999 shoot, describing how a rope held by a stuntman tightened unexpectedly as he stretched on tiptoes for a take. He said the rope pulled him downward, his elbow went into his ear, there was gravel in his mouth, and he lost consciousness. Director Stephen Sommers reportedly urged another take, and Fraser recalled hearing that he had joined a club of actors who had experienced the same risk on set.

Hugh Jackman has spoken about on-set injuries that accompanied his long run as Wolverine, including an ear injury after colliding with a camera and a separate moment when a harness caught him during a wire stunt. He recalled screaming during the sequence, only to have the shot continue before adjustments were made for safety.

Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond also included a notable on-set injury: during Casino Royale filming in the Czech Republic, he took a hard hit in the face while working with stand-ins and needed immediate dental work to return to the project. He later wore a mouth guard for subsequent fight scenes.

Natalie Portman has discussed a rib dislocation suffered during Black Swan after a lift went awry, noting that the production had limited on-site medical resources due to budget constraints. Portman described enduring the injury while continuing to train intensively for the role, highlighting the tension between performance demands and on-set medical support.

Michelle Yeoh, known for her own stunt work, has described injuries sustained while filming on location and on rooftop sequences. In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and other projects, she spoke of recovering from an ACL tear and returning to complete final fights after significant downtime, illustrating the long arc of recovery that sometimes accompanies action-heavy performances.

The pattern of high-risk stunts has prompted ongoing conversations about safety protocols on sets, including the presence of medical staff near critical sequences, advances in stunt choreography, and stricter on-set safety oversight. Industry observers note that while studios push for thrilling action, productions increasingly balance spectacle with safeguarding performers and crew. The Tom Holland incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of stunt work and the ongoing evolution of safety standards in Culture & Entertainment.