Tom Holland says he’s turned down Lorne Michaels multiple times because he’s “petrified” of reading cue cards on Saturday Night Live, describing dyslexia-related freezes during read-throughs and out-loud moments.
Tom Holland loves the idea of taking over Studio 8H. It’s the cue cards that have him stuck.
During an episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast on Tuesday. the Spider-Man star was asked about the exact moment when Zendaya’s man might hesitate—cue cards and all. Holland didn’t dodge the question. “I’m so petrified at the concept of trying to read something and then they change [it]. For me. I can read fine. but when I have to read out loud. it just becomes like a kind of—it’s like a mental block—and I can freeze.”.
Holland then connected the fear to something personal and diagnosed: “I’m heavily dyslexic.” He said that even when he understands the material. the pressure of reading on cue can trigger that mental lock. The result isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a very real struggle with the job component that’s supposed to look effortless.
His comments also made clear that this isn’t a hypothetical. Holland said he’s turned down Lorne Michaels’ offer to host several times. “I’ve been really lucky that they’ve asked me a few times to do it. and the truth is that I’m actually just really scared. I love the show. and I love the idea of having fun and making a fool of yourself in such a fun. creative way. It’s just that thing of the cue cards.”.
The actor added that dyslexia affects how he approaches movie roles too, especially the read-through process. “For me, my worst day at work is the read-through. I will really try and highlight everything and learn my lines ahead of time so that I’m more skimming it than I am reading it.”
Amy Poehler didn’t let him sit in the fear for long. She encouraged him to challenge it, joking about other hosts’ approaches. “You have to remember, there have been people that have hosted that have been fully on drugs. I think you can do it.”
If Holland eventually takes the leap. fans will probably want to see whether his worst-day read-through jitters translate to SNL’s live chaos. He pointed listeners to the conversation itself, telling them to watch around the 51:24 timestamp on the podcast. And for now. the answer is straightforward: he’ll keep loving the show—from the audience side—until the cue cards stop sounding like a trap.
Tom Holland Saturday Night Live SNL Amy Poehler Good Hang podcast dyslexia Lorne Michaels cue cards Zendaya