Sony Buys Tom Holland Thriller Penthouse
Tom Holland has lined up his next leading role at Sony.
Sony Pictures has pre-emptively bought Penthouse, an original thriller from writer Drew Pearce designed as a starring vehicle for Holland, Deadline reported on 19 October 2026. A pre-emptive deal means the studio agreed terms early to take the project off the table before other buyers could make offers. A starring vehicle means the story is built around one performer in the central role.
Pearce originated the idea and will write the screenplay. That makes him the central creative voice at this stage, shaping story, characters and dialogue before a director and wider cast come aboard. No story details have been disclosed. The project is known only by its title, Penthouse, and its genre, thriller.
The producing line-up spans both sides of the deal. Holland's company Billy17 and Pearce's company Point of No Return are attached to produce. For Billy17, the credited producers are Tom Holland, Harry Holland and Will South. Pearce will produce for Point of No Return, while Ian Fisher will serve as executive producer for the same company, a role that often covers creative support and business oversight rather than daily physical production.
The move keeps Holland's acting and producing work under the same roof. Billy17 has a producing arrangement with Sony Pictures, under which the company develops film projects for the studio. The banner was described as newly launched when the Sony deal was announced in December 2024 alongside Harry Holland and South, according to Sony Pictures. In practice, that type of deal gives a studio first access to ideas from its producing partners.
What makes this stand out is the form. Penthouse is an original idea, not drawn from a book, comic, sequel or remake. Original thrillers built for a single star are less common in a market that leans heavily on familiar properties, which gives early announcements like this added interest for general film fans.
There is still a long road to the screen. No director has been named. No production start date or cinema release date has been set. For now, Penthouse sits at the writing stage at Sony, with Holland positioned as its lead as the script takes shape.
