SmartLess

Snapshot · SmartLess

"Jon Bernthal"

Explore episode Jun 8, 2026
TV & Film
Tom Holland audition tape swap at 17

"Jon Bernthal" · Jun 8, 2026

Bernthal made Tom Holland's Spider-Man audition tape while Holland made Bernthal's Punisher audition tape when they worked together in Ireland — Holland was 17 at the time.

Where this was said

Tom Holland, Mutual Audition Tapes, and a Decade of Friendship

At 1:01:57 · chapter starts 1:01:30

Will brings up Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the Punisher special Bernthal wrote that's releasing the following week. Bernthal has known Tom Holland since he was 17 — they shot a film together in Ireland where Holland made Bernthal's Punisher audition tape and Bernthal made Holland's Spider-Man tape. A 17-year-old Holland told Bernthal with complete conviction: I am Spider-Man. Bernthal privately thought: mathematically, I just don't know, man. A decade later, they're doing two movies back to back together. Bernthal is effusive: Holland was raised beautifully, his family is wonderful, he's become the human ambassador the role demanded. He loves Holland's relationship with his partner and is genuinely proud of the man and movie star he's become.

TV & Film
Tom Holland at 17: Mutual Audition Tapes in Ireland

"Jon Bernthal" · Jun 8, 2026 TV & Film

When Bernthal and a 17-year-old Tom Holland were filming together in Ireland, Holland made Bernthal's Punisher audition tape and Bernthal shot Holland's Spider-Man audition tape. Holland told Bernthal with total certainty: I am Spider-Man. Bernthal privately had his doubts about those odds mathematically. A decade later, they're in two movies together and Bernthal says he's never met a better person in the industry.

Similar snapshots

TV & Film
Motor City — no dialogue silent film

Alan Ritchson · Jul 27, 2026

Motor City is a film with zero spoken dialogue, originally conceived by then-Warner Bros. president Greg Silverman so that global audiences could share the same experience without language barriers.

TV & Film
Motor City on Hollywood Blacklist since 2009

Alan Ritchson · Jul 27, 2026

The Motor City script appeared on Hollywood's prestigious Blacklist of best unproduced screenplays as early as 2009 and was greenlit nine times with different directors before finally being made.

TV & Film
Thor audition — 'he doesn't have the craft'

Alan Ritchson · Jul 27, 2026

Alan Ritchson's failed Thor audition was so poor the casting director broke protocol to call his team and say he didn't have the craft — a moment Ritchson describes as the career-defining crossroads that sent him to acting school.