Zendaya joked she would leave Tom Holland over 'The Odyssey' role

Tom Holland has revealed that his wife Zendaya, jokingly threatened to "leave" him if he passed on the opportunity to star in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.

The actor shared the lighthearted story while speaking alongside Nolan, Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway in an interview with People, recalling the difficult decision he faced after being offered the role of Telemachus in the epic adaptation of Homer's classic tale.

After meeting with Nolan, Holland said he went home to discuss the offer with Zendaya, who immediately understood the significance of the project.

"To be honest, when I got home after our meeting, I sat down with Z and was like, 'I've been offered this movie,'" Holland recalled.

When she realized the film was directed by Christopher Nolan, she encouraged him to take the role despite a major scheduling conflict.

At the time, production on Spider-Man: Brand New Day was set to begin on the same day filming for The Odyssey was scheduled to start, leaving Holland with a difficult choice.

According to the actor, Zendaya jokingly settled the debate.

"Z said, 'I'll leave you if you don't do The Odyssey,'" Holland said, prompting laughter from the cast. Nolan also joined in, joking, "Well, thank you to her."

Ultimately, Holland accepted the role after asking Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman to delay production on the next Spider-Man film so he could join Nolan's project.

Nolan admitted he had wanted to work with Holland for years and was delighted when the actor found a way to make both projects possible.

"Tom was somebody I hadn't worked with before, but I've admired his work for years," Nolan said, praising the actor for making time despite his demanding schedule.

The director added that the production was physically challenging but credited the cast for embracing every aspect of the demanding shoot.

Zendaya also stars in The Odyssey, portraying the Greek goddess Athena, while reprising her role as MJ opposite Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Earlier this month, the actress described working alongside her husband in Nolan's film as "the dream."

She revealed she was already thrilled when Holland landed the role, never expecting she would later receive an offer to join the cast herself.

Zendaya recalled Holland asking her to read the script again, this time imagining herself as Athena.

Realizing she had also been cast left her stunned.

"Shut up! You're joking!" she remembered saying after learning the news, calling the opportunity to share the experience with Holland incredibly special.

The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Holland as Telemachus, arrives in theaters on July 17.