IN CONVERSATION WITH JACOB BATALON

words and interview by SAMO ŠAJN

JACOB BATALON is an actor and executive producer best known for playing NED LEEDS in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Spider-Man films alongside TOM HOLLAND and ZENDAYA. His performance quickly made him a fan favourite, thanks to his humour and warmth. Since his breakout, he has worked across film and television in projects including Reginald the Vampire, Tarot and The Wrecking Crew, while also stepping into producing and developing work behind the camera. He returns to the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day this year, continuing his long-running role in one of cinema’s most successful modern franchises. 

coat FRANCIS COONEY
gloves KAT AND CLARESE
watch ring SAGE AND SABER

Returning to Spider-Man: Brand New Day years after the events of No Way Home (2021), how did you approach revisiting Ned at a stage in his life that feels far more mature and emotionally complicated?

Whenever you return to a character after a while, you sort of forget certain things. But Ned has been such a big part of my life, not just my career, that it felt like stepping back into a familiar pair of shoes. He’s the character that really started everything for me.

What I enjoy most about Ned is that he’s lighthearted and always means well. It’s also exciting to see where these characters are now. They’re older, they’ve grown, and they’ve been through so much. Getting the chance to explore that new stage of their lives was really rewarding.

headpiece ASHAKA GIVENS
coat PUBLIC SERV-CE FW26
dress shirt JAREL ZHANG SS26
brooches ALEXIS BITTAR
shoes PRADA

Your career seemed to begin almost overnight with an audition leading to Marvel. Looking back now, how has your understanding of success and ambition evolved since those early days?

I was auditioning before Spider-Man and dealing with plenty of rejection. Then suddenly I found myself flying to California for screen tests and going through the whole Spider-Man process. At the time, it felt almost like a fairy tale.

Being exposed to the industry at a young age helped shape the way I look at both work and life. I’ve learned that every career comes with challenges and uncertainty. If you work hard, you tend to get luckier, but it’s also important to not lose the things that make you who you are.

Were you a fan of Marvel before auditioning?

Absolutely. I think for a lot of millennials, TOBEY MAGUIRE was our Spider-Man. Before that I was into things like Power Rangers, Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! But when I saw Tobey swinging through New York for the first time, I thought, “This is something I can really get into.” 

Like a lot of people my age, I grew up with those films, so it’s pretty surreal looking back and realising that I eventually became part of that universe.

full GIVENCHY MENS SS27 BY SARAH BURTON
watch ROLEX
brooch ALEXIS BITTAR
gloves VOLKOV

jacket PUBLIC SERV-CE FW26
shirt and shoes KID SUPER FW26
pants BOSS
shoes KID SUPER FW26

Across the MCU films, Ned has often brought warmth and humour into high-stakes situations. What do you think makes audiences continue to connect with him so strongly?

I think Ned is kind of the audience’s window into the MCU. If you’re a fan of superheroes and suddenly find yourself surrounded by all these incredible events, you’d probably react a lot like he does. At the same time, he’s just genuinely kind. He wants the best for the people around him and always tries to do the right thing. I think that’s why audiences have continued to connect with him over the years.

The relationship between Ned and PETER PARKER has become one of the emotional anchors of the Spider-Man films. How has your dynamic with Tom Holland evolved over the years?

From the beginning, we were very close. Tom made it a point for us to have a great relationship because it’s such an important part of Peter Parker’s story. It was my first professional job, and he was always incredibly welcoming and supportive. We’ve spent almost a decade together now, which is pretty wild to think about. At this point, it genuinely feels like brotherly love.

shirt KID SUPER FW26
watches ROLEX
tie RALPH LAUREN
brooch ALEXIS BITTAR

With projects ranging from Tarot to Reginald the Vampire, you’ve steadily moved beyond the comedic sidekick archetype. Was that something you consciously pursued?

Yeah, it was definitely something I pursued. A lot of things aligned at the right moment in my career, and I’m grateful that I’ve reached a point where I can be more selective about the projects I take on. 

What’s exciting about moving into different genres is that it allows you to explore a much wider emotional range. Every character asks something different of you, and that’s what keeps acting interesting.

On Reginald the Vampire, you stepped into the dual role of actor and executive producer. Did having creative authority behind the camera change the way you think about storytelling?

Absolutely. As an actor, you’re focused on your character, but as a producer you’re looking at the entire picture. You’re thinking about the story, the schedule, the crew and everything else that goes into making a production work. It gave me a whole new appreciation for everyone behind the camera. There were definitely some sleepless nights, but it was incredibly rewarding and taught me a lot about storytelling.

headpiece ASHAKA GIVENS
sweater AKOBI
blazer TCS

There’s often a strong underdog quality to many of the characters you play. Are you naturally drawn to stories about outsiders and unlikely heroes?

Yeah, I think so. Growing up in Hawaii and being Filipino, there weren’t always a lot of people in film and television who looked like me. Because of that, I naturally gravitated towards stories about people who were trying to overcome obstacles or challenge stereotypes. I’ve always connected with characters who aren’t necessarily the obvious leading man or leading woman. Those stories often feel the most human to me.

Having grown up in Honolulu before entering Hollywood, do you feel your perspective on the industry is different from actors who were raised within it?

Definitely. When I first entered the industry, I was genuinely star-struck by everybody. Directors, producers, actors. I couldn’t believe I was suddenly in the same room as people whose work I had admired for years.

Now, I’ve learned to stay a little calmer when I walk into a room, but I still carry that same sense of gratitude with me.

jacket CATOU WEAR
sweater AKOBI
watch ring SAGE AND SABER
belt MARTINE ROSE
shoes PRADA

Representation has become an increasingly important conversation in blockbuster cinema, and your portrayal of Ned marked a notable shift from the original comic-book version. How meaningful has it been to see audiences respond so positively to your version of the character?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised how important representation is. Being part of that conversation and helping create more opportunities for people of colour, particularly within the AAPI community, has meant a lot to me.

I think the people behind Spider-Man really wanted to reflect New York as it actually is, a diverse melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. It’s been amazing to see audiences embrace that.

Our issue is all about cinema. Could you tell us about some of your favourite filmmakers, actors or films?

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON is one of the greats. Obviously, directors like QUENTIN TARANTINO, MARTIN SCORSESE and STEVEN SPIELBERG have had a huge influence on cinema as well.

Personally, I love PARK CHAN-WOOK, as one of my favourite films is The Handmaiden (2016). I also really admire BOOTS RILEY. There are so many filmmakers doing interesting things right now that it’s hard to choose.

Recently, my partner and I have gone very deep into anime, so we’ve been watching a lot of animated projects.

hat ASHAKA GIVENS
sweater Y-3 RTW FW26
coat PUBLIC SERV-CE FW26
necklace ALEXIS BITTAR

TEAM CREDITS:

talent JACOB BATALON
photography BEN ABARBANEL
styling ROWAINE GRANT at CELESTINE AGENCY
grooming LAURA COSTA at EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS using TATA HARPER
styling assistants ANGEL SIPILIA, JONATHAN BAEZ and KELAN RICHARDSON
location BROOKLYN GRAIN PHOTO STUDIO
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview SAMO ŠAJN