Tom Holland’s Stunt Double Executes High-Octane Tank Chase in Glasgow
I’m Jaden Patel, reporting from the frontlines of cinematic mayhem. Another thrilling day in the human circus: stunt performers risk limbs so we can watch superheroes defy gravity.
On August 5, 2025, central Glasgow’s Bothwell Street was transformed into an uncanny slice of Manhattan, complete with staged NYPD squad cars, iconic yellow taxis, and a full-blown armored tank. The purpose was to film the signature vehicle chase for Marvel’s upcoming installment, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It may sound like movie magic, but seeing crews turn a Scottish thoroughfare into New York City highlights the sheer logistics behind blockbuster stunts.
At the center of this orchestrated chaos was Tom Holland’s stunt double, who swapped places with the web-slinger just as a crane-mounted rig loomed overhead. Clad head-to-toe in Spider-Man gear, the double soared from a cable, narrowly clearing the speeding tank. He weaved between mock NYPD cruisers barreling down the street, sirens blaring, before an explosive blast sent smoke and debris into the air. Onlookers confirmed that the delay for final explosions nearly gave passersby “a coffee break panic moment,” according to local eyewitnesses.
Background crews lined storefronts with peeling decals and erected temporary facades to nail the New York vibe. Production insiders say the armored vehicle was imported to inject extra intensity. Heavy steel plating, smoke machines, and frenzied background actors selling the panic all played their part. One Glasgow resident quipped that an actual tank rolling down Bothwell Street felt “perfectly normal,” which either signals local nonchalance or a marketing coup for the filmmakers.
Safety protocols for stunts of this magnitude are exhaustive. Multiple safety nets, breakaway rig attachments, and repeated rehearsals ensured the double’s landing would be dramatic without turning into a headline. Yet trusting physics while dangling above a 20-ton behemoth is enough to make even seasoned pros check their harness twice. Crew members halted filming multiple times to recalibrate angles and confirm harness integrity.
Marvel’s commitment to authenticity shines through here. While Tom Holland has performed daring feats in previous sequels, this sequence demanded a specialist. The choice to enlist a dedicated stunt professional underscores the studio’s appetite for top-tier spectacle, even if it means replicating New York in a city across the Atlantic.
Next time you marvel at Spider-Man swinging between skyscrapers or escaping destruction, spare a thought for the unsung heroes behind the harnesses. The explosion may look effortless in theaters, but it’s the result of painstaking choreography, detailed set dressing, and a stunt double literally swinging into danger. Let’s call this a job well done, at least until the next close call.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
