I mean the reason why Tom Holland works as opposed to Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield is because Tom is around the age of

Peter in the comics. And he looks like to be someone in high school. And I believe Jon wanted someone who would be an actual teen for the audience to connect with

Also I believe both Kevin Feige and Jon Watts wanted to make the character right this time around which is why no origin story was used in the first movie

Plus Tom is able to do a lot of flips and jumps on his own which Tobey and Andrew can’t do.

The comics age isn’t true though - he was only in high school for relatively few issues, the majority of the time he has been in university or post-university.

The powers that be at Marvel certainly WANT Peter Parker to be high school age, which is why Ultimate comics Peter Parker was in that age group, and also why Miles Morales is likely doomed to stay in that age range as long as they can possibly manage it.

Sony have definitely continued in the spirit of that trend though - starting all three iterations of their Spider-Man movies in a high school setting.

Tobey was the most egregious casting - big “hello fellow young people” energy.

Andrew definitely skewed younger in appearance, but in a CW show kind of way.

Tom is the youngest in appearance so far, and that was deliberate.

Edit - the physical acrobatics he brings to the role certainly didn’t hurt him with going for the part.

One was too nerdy, the other was too buff. Simple as. Tom Holland is perfect for Spider-Man and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Replace “too nerdy” with “too thirty” and I will co-sign that.

I don't think he's a better Spider-Man than either actor, heh. I don't hate him or anything.