A forgotten Tom Holland film is now on Netflix. With Chris Hemsworth, In the Heart of the Sea is currently streaming on the platform.
The 2015 film In the Heart of the Sea is based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s 2000 non-fiction book The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, which recounted the 1820 drowning of the American whaling ship Essex. Moby-Dick, starring Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville, was inspired by the event. Hemsworth plays Essex first mate Owen Chase, and Holland plays cabin boy Thomas Nickerson. Brendan Gleeson plays an older Nickerson who tells Melville about the Essex’s demise.
In the Heart of the Sea was directed and co-produced by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Charles Leavitt, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver. Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, and Michelle Fairley complete the historical adventure film. In the Heart of the Sea, despite an all-star ensemble and Oscar-winning director, grossed only $94.3 million worldwide, failing to recoup its $100 million production budget.
In the Heart of the Sea Indirectly Made Tom Holland MCU Spider-Man
In the Heart of the Sea began filming in September 2013 and was released in December 2015, six months after Holland was cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the MCU. Hemsworth told Entertainment Tonight that he helped Holland earn the Spider-Man role in Captain America: Civil War, even though he wasn’t in the film.
“I mean, look, we worked on In the Heart of the Sea together, obviously, then through Avengers and as they were casting him for Spider-Man, I did what I could do and made a call,” he said. “He’s one of the most talented persons I’ve worked with and has a great heart and appreciation. Who knows, we have a fantastic friendship and mutual respect.”
Hemsworth and Holland are buddies, although they’ve never appeared together in an MCU film. Both featured in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), however they did not interact. Both actors are likely to participate in the upcoming Avengers sequels Doomsday and Secret Wars, though none has been confirmed.
Marvel has only confirmed Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps performers and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom for the fifth Avengers film. Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Anthony Mackie, and Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise their roles as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Peggy Carter, Sam Wilson, and Doctor Stephen Strange in the highly anticipated crossover sequel.