Tom Holland's agent is having a good month. The actor is already stated to have one of the biggest summers on record in 2026, between the July releases of Spider-Man 4 and Christopher Nolan's next film. Now, Holland is adding a crime drama to his slate of anticipated releases.
According to Deadline, Holland is teaming up with Austin Butler for American Speed. The film is based on the true story of the Whittington brothers, who were famous race car drivers in the 1980s. Two of the brothers were involved in the IMSA scandal of the 1980s, which saw racers rely on the smuggling of drugs and the laundering of money to finance their events.
American Speed will be distributed by MGM
Holland and Butler will play the aforementioned brothers, and Charles Rover will produce. Rover has a Christopher Nolan connection of his own, as he produced the Oscar-winning biopic Oppenheimer in 2023. The story of the Whittington brothers is definitely primed for the big screen, but the appeal of the film will undoubtedly lie in the casting of two of the biggest young stars in Hollywood.
Holland became a household name thanks to his Spider-Man films, but he has struggled to establish himself as a dramatic leading man outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A starring role in a Nolan film, and now a juicy part in an MGM drama, is poised to change that.
Both Holland and Butler are burgeoning superstars
Butler is seemingly continuing his hot streak of releases. The Oscar-nominated actor stole the show in Dune: Part Two (2024), and earned positive reviews for his Brando-esque turn in the period drama The Bikeriders (2024). Credibility is not the issue with this star, as evidenced by the fact that he's set to appear in the next film by acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky.
American Speed seems like a cagey decision on the parts of both Holland and Butler. We're excited to keep tabs on this film as more information gets released.