Actor Tom Holland met historian Tom Holland for a special YouTube episode of The Rest is History to talk about his new film The Odyssey.
The interview is part of a paid partnership with Universal Pictures, which delivered multiple content assets. Dominick Sandbrook and Tom Holland have a two-part series on Homer’s epic poem. Holland also appears on several Instagram Reels reacting to scenes from the film, as well as the Holland vs Holland content.
Their shared name has been a long-running joke between historian Holland and his podcast co-host, delivering a hefty dose of fan-service to listeners. One commented, “I have no one to talk to about how huge this is for me.” The pair also recreated a meme from the Spiderverse canon.
The Rest Is History has become a global podcast phenomenon since launching in 2020, combining academic rigour with running jokes and an unusually devoted fan community. Today, 4.3% of weekly UK podcast listeners tune in, according to Ofcom, and more than half of its audience is under 35.
The Holland/Holland crossover is smart because it elevates the film’s marketing beyond the ubiquitous press cycle, reaching an audience already primed for stories from the ancient world while delivering something profoundly silly and genuinely joyful.
At CORQ. we have been tracking the appetite for campaigns that reward people for being in on the joke. Rather than interrupting culture, Universal stepped inside an existing community, giving listeners a moment they had wanted for years while naturally extending the film’s reach.
CORQ’s insights director Emilie McMeekan breaks down the collaboration.
@corq.studio When Tom Holland met Tom Holland. The Spider-Man actor stopped by @The Rest Is History during his press tour for @Universal Pictures’ The Odyssey, and the duo recreated the famous Spider-Man meme and leaned in in-jokes that are part of the podcast’s community and fandom 💡 #tomholland #therestishistory #theodyssey
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