Tom Holland and Austin Butler will star in American Speed as real-life racecar drivers who were involved in a drug smuggling and money laundering scandal. The English actor is best known for his portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though he's also played against type, including his recent role in the Apple TV+ miniseries The Crowded Room. Butler, on the other hand, rose to fame without the assistance of a superhero franchise, receiving an Oscar nomination for his performance in Elvis and starring as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two.

Now, the two stars are set to forces for a new film. According to Deadline, Tom Holland and Austin Butler are attached to star in American Speed for Amazon MGM Studios following a competitive auction. The screenplay, written by Dan Wiedenhaupt, is based on the true story of the Whittington brothers, three renowned racecar drivers, two of whom were implicated in the 1980s IMSA scandal in which several drivers funded their racing careers through drug smuggling, money laundering, and tax evasion.

What American Speed Means For Tom Holland & Austin Butler

It Continues Their Career Trends

American Speed is the latest role Tom Holland has lined up recently, including Spider-Man 4, set for release on July 24, 2026, and he's also starring alongside Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan's next movie, set for one week earlier on July 17, 2026. Though Holland is best known for action roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Uncharted, he's also played against type with roles in crime dramas The Devil All the Time, Cherry, and The Crowded Room. In what sounds like equal parts action and crime drama, American Speed should play to both of Holland's strengths.

On the other hand, after earning an Oscar nomination for his transformative portrayal of Elvis Presley in 2023, Austin Butler is coming off a strong 2024 with his standout performance in Dune: Part Two, a lead role in The Bikeriders, and the Apple TV+ limited series Masters of the Air. He's currently filming the Darren Aronofsky-directed crime thriller Caught Stealing. American Speed should be more of the same for Butler, continuing to showcase his ability to portray complex, complicated characters involved in criminal activity.

Our Take On Tom Holland & Austin Butler Starring In American Speed

It Should Be A Dynamic Pairing

The pairing of stars like Tom Holland and Austin Butler, no matter the subject, is sure to captivate a significant portion of audiences, especially those familiar with their work in the Spider-Man and Dune franchises. Given his past roles, Holland seems specially equipped to blend the racing action with the gritty undertones of crime drama, while Butler is versatile enough for whatever the role requires. Their contrasting, yet complementary styles should make for an intriguing brotherly bond in American Speed.

American Speed is being produced by Charles Roven via his Atlas Entertainment banner alongside RD Whittington and Douglas Banker. Ryan Sanak will executive produce.

Source: Deadline