- Primary Subject: Alden Ehrenreich's on his failed past audition for Spider-Man.
- Key Update: Solo: A Star Wars Story and Oppenheimer star Alden Ehrenreich admitted he was "woefully unprepared" during a "disastrous early audition for the role of Spider-Man before eventually securing his MCU debut in Ironheart.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 29, 2026
- Quick Answer: Alden Ehrenreich revealed he bombed his early Spider-Man screen test due to lack of preparation, way before he landed a major role in Marvel's Ironheart.
Long before bringing a young Han Solo to life or stepping into Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, acclaimed actor Alden Ehrenreich set his sights on Marvel's most famous wallcrawler.
Early in his career, Ehrenreich joined the high-profile list of Hollywood talent who screen-tested to take the next superhero mantle. While that audition did not land him the Spidey suit, Ehrenreich reflects on the full circle of still being brought to Marvel Studios under a different role.
Alden Ehrenreich Reveals Bombing His Spider-Man Audition Before Landing Ironheart Role
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During a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Ehrenreich revealed that before stepping into the MCU through Ironheart, he had a hilarious screen test for Spider-Man, and noted that he entered the audition room "woefully unprepared" for it.
"I remember [Andrew Garfield] coming in when I was walking out," Ehrenreich told Horowitz. "But in that moment, I really didn't want to do it, to be honest. I think it was also where I was at internally. Clearly, they created something that breathed new life into it, but all that existed at that time [was Tobey Maguire]."
"Now we're in this moment where 18 people have played Spider-Man, but to me, [it] was the same story. I felt like I had to audition for it," Ehrenreich continued. "I'm not suggesting that I would have gotten the role. I think Andrew Garfield is one of the best actors of my generation, easily. He's incredible, and I'm sure he would have gotten it anyway."
The Solo: A Star Wars Story star went on to admit he showed up "woefully unprepared", putting it down to being only 21 or 22 at the time. He hadn't memorized his lines for "a scene with 10 actors having dinner" and recalled, "They were off book, and I was not. So if I did have the chance for that, I think I blew it. It wasn't right for me. I didn't want to do it."
Years after missing out on playing Peter Parker, Ehrenreich officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Marvel Studios' Ironheart series alongside Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams.
What Alden Ehrenreich's Ironheart Role Could Mean For His Future in the MCU
In Ironheart, Ehrenreich portrays Joe McGillicuddy / Ezekiel "Zeke" Stane, the son of Tony Stark's original nemesis, Obadiah Stane. His character not only bridges the gap between the classic Iron Man lore but also the next generation of armored heroes.
Instead of the traditional villain, Ehrenreich's character brings a morally nuanced perspective to the series as he challenges Riri Williams' view on technology, bio-augmentation, and what it means to carry a legacy.
Given Zeke Stane's history in Marvel Comics as a rival industrialist, Ehrenreich is positioned as a potential recurring character across tech-focused scenes in MCU crossover projects, potentially in future Black Panther expansions and perhaps even working side by side with Ironheart.
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