A US-based Filipino will play the role of Peter Parker’s best friend in the upcoming movie “Spider-Man: Homecoming” at cinemas July 6.
Jacob Batalon was casted as Ned Leeds, a 15-year-old high school student at Midtown Science High School in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Batalon is the first Pinoy-blooded actor to appear in a Marvel film and is proud of landing the role of a superhero’s sidekick.
“Being a sidekick is great because you don’t have with the heady crazy things superheroes have to deal with,” Batalon told Super. “I’m really proud to represent the Philippines and to represent Hawaii. The fact that it’s happened on such a big scale, I really do appreciate being that guy.”
Batalon, whose parents are from the Philippines, grew up in Hawaii and had a very typical Filipino upbringing.
“I grew up in a very typical Filipino household. Everyone spoke Filipino, everyone ate the food, everyone sang karaoke. Everyone loved having a good time,” he added.
Batalon is also set to to reprise his role for the Spiderman movies’ sequel, which is scheduled to hit the theaters in 2019.
Credit: Inquirer
