When it comes to live-action adaptations of beloved animated characters, the internet has a way of picking its dream cast… And then obsessing over it until Hollywood gives in. One such fan-casting that refuses to fade into the void of the internet is Tom Holland as Ben Tennyson, the Omnitrix-wielding hero of Ben 10.

While promoting Spider-Man 2, the hit PlayStation 5 game where he voices Peter Parker, Yuri Lowenthal, who famously voiced Ben Tennyson in Ben 10: Alien Force and beyond, was asked by The Movie Dweeb what he thought of the idea. And in true Yuri fashion, he delivered a thoughtful yet hilarious take.

“I mean, I think Tom would be great,” Yuri said. “Tom will look young forever, but he doesn’t look ten. Let’s be honest. I’ll watch Tom Holland play anything at this point. If [Ben Tennyson] was slightly older; if he was, like, Ben 20, maybe.”

From Spider-Man to… Ben 20?

If Tom Holland were to somehow don the Omnitrix, it wouldn’t be the first time he and Yuri have shared a superhero role. The two are already connected through Spider-Man, with Tom swinging through the MCU while Yuri does the same in Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man series. In fact, Spider-Man 2 has cemented Yuri’s version of the character as a fan favorite, with its gripping storyline, jaw-dropping visuals, and best-in-class web-swinging mechanics. The game lets players control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, and if you haven’t yet experienced the Venom-fueled chaos, you’re seriously missing out.

While Yuri may be open to Tom stepping into Ben Tennyson’s sneakers (or at least a version of them), Tom himself hasn’t exactly leaped at the opportunity. After a Photoshopped image of him as Ben 10 made the rounds on Instagram, captioned “Cmon Netflix make this happen,” Holland had a typically cheeky yet decisive response: “No.”

Ben 10: A Franchise That Won’t Quit (And Neither Will Yuri Lowenthal)

Ben 10 has been a staple of animated television since 2005, following the adventures of Ben Tennyson, a kid who discovers a mysterious watch, the Omnitrix, that allows him to transform into various alien species. Over the years, the franchise has expanded through multiple series, reboots, and animated movies, with Yuri Lowenthal stepping in as the teenage version of Ben in Alien Force, Ultimate Alien, and Omniverse. His performance helped shape the character into a more mature hero, tackling intergalactic threats while still maintaining his signature snark.

With such an expansive legacy, it’s no surprise that fans have long dreamed of a live-action adaptation worthy of the series. Several attempts have been made, including a couple of Cartoon Network-produced TV movies, but nothing on the scale of a Hollywood blockbuster… Yet.

Tom Holland’s Live-Action Curse?

Interestingly, Ben 10 isn’t the first live-action role that fans have tried to shove Tom Holland into against his will. In a previous interview with The Movie Dweeb, I asked Tom about playing Flynn Rider in a potential Tangled live-action remake. Much like his Ben 10 response, Tom politely shut it down. While many actors dream of playing animated icons, it seems like Tom is perfectly happy keeping his feet planted in the MCU (and occasionally voicing Nathan Drake in Uncharted).

So, while a Holland-led Ben 10 may not be in the cards, at least we have Yuri Lowenthal’s blessing for the dream to live on. Maybe, just maybe, if they age Ben up a bit…