Tom Holland is latest superstar name in bumper year for London theatre

West End even more packed than usual with big-name talent, but insiders say star casting is not only route to successful productions

There is dream theatre casting - and then there is persuading Spider-Man to play Romeo. The news this week that Tom Holland, the megastar 27-year-old (Instagram followers: 66 million) at the heart of Marvel's web-slinging franchise will be appearing in a pulsating" new West End production of Shakespeare's tragedy has redefined hot ticket" ahead of its opening on 11 May.

There are no details yet on his Juliet, or even a date for when tickets will go on sale, but with more than 3m likes of Holland's post announcing the show, it's fair to say the director, Jamie Lloyd, can be confident of a hit.