SPIDER-MAN 4: Jacob Batalon "Hopes" To Return As Ned Leeds But Hasn't Received The Call

SPIDER-MAN 4: Jacob Batalon "Hopes" To Return As Ned Leeds But Hasn't Received The Call

Peter Parker's best friend Ned Leeds played an integral role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but actor Jacob Batalon is not sure if he'll get the opportunity to reprise the role for Spider-Man 4...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 29, 2024 06:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man

Though we're still waiting on an official announcement, we know plans are in place for a fourth Spider-Man movie, with stars Tom Holland and Zendaya set to reprise their respective roles.

After appearing in the previous three movies and playing quite an integral role in No Way Home, one would assume Peter Parker's pal Ned Leeds will also factor into the story, but actor Jacob Batalon says he's still waiting on the call.

"I mean, I would hope so," The Tarot star told The Direct when asked if he's set to return for the untitled No Way Home follow-up. "I think just with anyone who's worked for Marvel knows that you kind of just like wait for a call. Maybe it does [happen], maybe it doesn't. But it's something that you definitely can't hope and wait for. You just like, you will wake up one day to a call at like 4:30 in the morning for no reason. You know, so maybe."

Batalon was then asked if he's spoken to Holland about how the story could continue, and his response may indicate that he's attempting not to give too much away. "I mean, again, there's some things that could possibly happen, but I'm honestly not sure. I feel like we talk about all kinds of things, but I mean, maybe."

There had been some speculation that Ned could eventually become the Hobgoblin as his comic book counterpart does, which reignited when a piece of concept art that did the rounds online last year. However, artist Phil Saunders explained that this was simply going to be a nod to the character's villainous turn in a 2023 interview.

“This was an early idea proposed where Ned gets a shot at riding the Goblin Glider during the final battle, a nice bit of fan service given Ned’s ultimate turn in the comic book universe. As serendipity would have it, Queens’ own Mets wear orange and blue, the colours of Hobgoblin, so I have Ned wearing the hoodie as another little nod. But just to show you how far we take research and character-building in Vis Dev, Ned’s wearing the number 50, [a] homage to Benny Agbayani, the Hawaiian-Filipino Mets left-fielder who would undoubtedly be one of Ned’s heroes, given their shared heritage.”

The next Spider-Man movie could obviously work without Ned, but it would be a shame if he didn't get to return after Doctor Strange's spell made him forget Peter/Spider-Man ever existed at the end of No Way Home.

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harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/29/2024, 8:40 PM
I'd prefer they moved away from him, I dont care for the character, and his bs magic powers was just poorly tacted on.
jst5
jst5 - 4/29/2024, 9:06 PM
@harryba11zack - Toby and Franco were SOOOOOO much interesting than this kid and Holland.
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 4/29/2024, 9:29 PM
@harryba11zack - his magic was the only thing about No Way Home that I didn’t like.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/29/2024, 9:38 PM
@SummersEssex - the fact that Peter never got to interact with Norman not once, and that they cut out their fight annoyed me the most.
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Spike101
Spike101 - 4/30/2024, 2:19 AM
@jst5 - I couldn’t agree more
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 4/30/2024, 3:17 AM
@harryba11zack
Imagine waiting 20 years and then fumble that shit.

Crazy.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/30/2024, 9:29 AM
@harryba11zack - we was an obnoxious character that really served no purpose to the story. Poorly written and expendable. I agree that they should move on from him
jst5
jst5 - 5/1/2024, 7:24 PM
@jst5 - Forgot to add the "more" to this...
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/29/2024, 8:45 PM
I personally like Ned and Jacob’s performance in the role (he has good chemistry with Holland) but honestly I hope we don’t see him again , atleast not immediately and same with MJ.

Have Peter encounter new versions of more of his supporting cast from the comics in this movie or so and once he seems to have settled into a new groove , bring his past crashing back in MJ and Ned.

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Also like any other comic characters , Ned Leeds has a very convoluted history in the comics but I’m pretty sure he was never actually Hobgoblin in those but brainwashed and framed by the real one.
Origame
Origame - 4/29/2024, 8:45 PM
It'd be the equivalent of bringing back Tony stark. The sacrifice Peter made is meaningless if these two just get back into his life. And it's not like any other hero has a reason to know or care about either of them.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/30/2024, 9:29 AM
@Origame - agreed but you just know they are going to put Zendaya back in his life at least.
Origame
Origame - 4/30/2024, 9:32 AM
@Shivermetimbers - yeah, pretty much. Let's face it, zendaya is the only star power of the spiderman movies.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/30/2024, 9:38 AM
@Origame - unfortunately you are right. I for one do not understand her appeal but it is what it is. I don’t mind her, but I don’t think she’s a very good actor.
Origame
Origame - 4/30/2024, 9:40 AM
@Shivermetimbers - I get that. I think it really requires the right role. Apparently she was really good on euphoria.
campblood
campblood - 4/29/2024, 8:48 PM
I would imagine he’d at least have a healthy cameo. But honestly I’d like to see Peter meet some new people. I’d like MJ and Ned start to get some flashes of the past with Pete but not completely in this one then make that the crux of the next one.
abd00bie
abd00bie - 4/29/2024, 9:21 PM
@campblood - Memories erased, Peter said his goodbyes.. no need to bring them back again. Move the [frick] on lol
campblood
campblood - 4/30/2024, 11:23 AM
@abd00bie - if that’s the case then I’d rather a new love interest and friend. Maybe Gwen and harry
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/29/2024, 8:51 PM
Fun fact:

MCU Ned is not the first Asian American version of the character…

There’s a character based off of him in Spectacular Spider Man called “Ned Lee” who is a Korean American reporter that is trying to uncover Spider Man’s identity and has a thing for Betty.

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fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 4/29/2024, 9:16 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Wow! Honestly forgot about that!
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 4/29/2024, 8:53 PM
New supporting characters please
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/29/2024, 8:56 PM
@Godzilla2000Zer - yep

Perfect time to bring in Harry and Felicia

Maybe even Gwen?.
abd00bie
abd00bie - 4/29/2024, 9:19 PM
@Godzilla2000Zer - Harry and Felicia
Batmangina
Batmangina - 4/29/2024, 9:05 PM
Get that dumpy broad that ran She-Hulk on it and have him twerk for the Shocker!
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 4/30/2024, 12:50 AM
@Batmangina - I prefer the Mini-van if we are being honest.
LSHF
LSHF - 4/29/2024, 9:07 PM
Well, if he "had" received the call, he wouldn't be telling anyone. Duh!

I'm sick of these stupid questions being asked for answers that can't be given. Duh!

I'm sure they are just doing what they are told, but it makes these reporters (or whatever they are called) look bad in several ways. Duh!

And I should probably tell myself, "Duh!" for even allowing it to bother me.

What I'm really trying to say is, "Duh!"
SirDuckAlot
SirDuckAlot - 4/29/2024, 9:10 PM
Not a fan of Ganke
CoHost
CoHost - 4/29/2024, 9:14 PM
You weren't in the Raimi movies.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 4/29/2024, 9:18 PM
Si5wv
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 4/29/2024, 9:30 PM
Move away from him and Zendaya. They were great for what those movies were, but high school Peter is done. Time to move on to Black Cat and symbiote
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 4/29/2024, 9:33 PM
I never connected to Ned or MJ. Actually now that I think of it, the only time I connected to Peter was when he was sad about Tony.
folieaturd
folieaturd - 4/29/2024, 9:34 PM
Sorry Jacob, That's not going to happen
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dragon316
dragon316 - 4/29/2024, 9:45 PM
He and mj should not return
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/29/2024, 10:12 PM
For all its success, NWH, has a lot of headscrstching moments. To name a few

- Peter bringing all the villains to Happy's condo the "cure" them. How naive is that

- aunt May getting mortally wonded only to get up, have some dialogue and then die later

- dr Strange agreeing on Peter's request and casting the spell only to blabber about "things we dont yet understand"

- Ned being able to use the sling ring

- Tobey Peter magically concocts a serum for the Goblin from a HS lab

- Andrew Peter for Lizard too
Slotherin
Slotherin - 4/30/2024, 8:58 AM
@vectorsigma - those last two especially bothered me.

As far as we know, Tobey Peter never had access to the original Goblin formula or Norman's blood work to come up with a cure, regardless of how many years he thought about if he could have cured him.

Meanwhile, in ASM, Andrew Peter doesn't appear to have concocted the antiserum for The Lizard, there was just conveniently already one in existence.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 4/30/2024, 9:00 AM
@vectorsigma - I saw something on tvtropes concerning Ned and the sling ring that partially worked for me however:
Ned had no ego in his way unlike Strange and already (reasonably so) actively believed in magic before using the sling ring.

I admit it isn't a full or perfect explanation, only has a bit of merit.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/29/2024, 10:19 PM
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Humperdoo
Humperdoo - 4/29/2024, 10:29 PM
Ned looking like a 30 year old in high school was goofy. Whenever Ned was in a scene it took me out of the movie because he looks so old compared to his high school friends.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/29/2024, 10:36 PM
Also another fun fact:

Ned having latent magical abilities in the MCU is also a nod to him being revealed to be a sorcerer in the comic run “Symbiote Spider Man:Alien Reality” by Peter David which was a miniseries that ran from 2019-2020…

That is set before his “death” in the comics (even though he’s later revealed to be alive) and during the time where he was brainwashed , he had begun training under Mordo aswell

Comics are [frick]ing weird man.

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TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 4/29/2024, 11:04 PM
Dude is weird AF
JFerguson
JFerguson - 4/29/2024, 11:23 PM
i'm excited for tom hollands spiderman 4 to finally give us a spidey beyond a trilogy. the next movie should live up to the promise of spidey leaving his dual identity behind, meaning i doubt we'll get much of Ned in the next one.

I think Jacob was a really good guy in the chair in homecoming and would like to see him return down the line maybe at the end of this next trilogy. As hobgoblin of course.
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