Zendaya and Tom Holland first met in 2016, and on Wednesday the newlyweds stepped out together to promote their fourth Spider-Man film. Over the past decade, the pair have grown up on screen together while moving from co-stars to one of Hollywood’s most closely watched couples.
Let’s spin a web back through the years and compare how they looked when their spider-senses first started tingling with how they appear now.
How did their Spider-Man journey begin?
Their first Spider-Man film together was Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, and they clearly enjoyed promoting it together. Holland and Zendaya were just 20 and 19 years old, respectively, when they first met in 2016 on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming during casting and initial production.
The film showed British actor Holland as Peter Parker, balancing high school life with being a superhero, Spider-Man, for the first time. It also introduced US actress Zendaya as MJ, his awkward but intellectual classmate.
The on-screen chemistry was clear from the start, and the film received good reviews, but the pair denied rumours of a romance, insisting they were just close friends while promoting the movie.
Wait wait ... my favourite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years! hbu @TomHolland1996 ???
Does the press tour count?
What happened when they returned for Far From Home?
The pair continued to film and promote Marvel projects together, and in 2019 they were back on the red carpet for the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
The movie saw Peter go on a school trip to Europe, where he teams up with MJ.
How did their relationship develop around No Way Home?
In summer 2021, the acting pair were photographed embracing in Los Angeles, driving fans wild online. Later that year, they looked cosy on the campaign trail for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which also featured Zendaya’s method dressing in her spider-webbed dress.
Their third Spider-Man film together saw multiverse chaos break out after Peter’s identity is revealed, with MJ by his side. A few months after the premiere, Holland marked Zendaya’s birthday by posting a selfie from the set.
My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when your up xxx.
What changed before Brand New Day?
In the years that followed, the couple were seen together many times at gigs, sports games and afterparties, while both also spoke to the media about the need to balance their public and private lives.
Speaking to Extra on the red carpet at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, Holland said their favourite pastime was rewatching old Spider-Man films.
Zendaya and I will, every now and then, watch Spider-Man 1 and reminisce about being 19 and making those movies again
What did Zendaya say about working with Tom Holland now?
In June 2026, after years of speculation regarding engagement rings and viral AI wedding pictures, Holland confirmed that they had, in fact, got married. Soon after, Hollywood’s hottest couple appeared together for the London premiere of their fourth Spider-Man film together, which explores Peter’s life years after the events of No Way Home.
On working with her husband, Zendaya told :
When you're best friends it's easy
They also appear together in another film, The Odyssey, but for Spider-Man fans they will be Peter and MJ forever.
Key Facts
- Zendaya and Tom Holland first met in 2016 on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
- They promoted Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019 and Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021.
- Holland confirmed in June 2026 that the pair had got married.
- They appeared together on Wednesday to promote their fourth Spider-Man film.
- They also feature together in The Odyssey.
