Jacob Batalon Is Ready to Play the Villain

Jacob Batalon in conversation with film director Jon Watts

There have been a lot of iterations of Spider-Man: three different live-action forms on the big screen, variations in the animated variety, and even more types in the comic books. But the thing that’s made the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Spider-Man stand out is an irreverent cast that brings naivety, humor, youthful vigor, and adventure to a franchise that’s been around for 58 years. Jacob Batalon is, unequivocally, a part of that movie magic.

The 23-year-old first became Ned, the excitable best friend to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts. In his first major role, the Filipino-American starred alongside Zendaya, Robert Downey Jr., Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, and Marisa Tomei — and held his own. Batalon then reprised his role in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and the sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Batalon appeared in Netflix’s 2019 holiday rom-com Let It Snow and is set to star in 50 States of Fright, a horror anthology series on Quibi. And he’s open to so much more. This talent sat down with Watts to talk about his skyrocket to fame and fervor for entertaining the masses. —Danielle Kwateng-Clark

Jon Watts: Are you just having a little break? You've been busy.

Jacob Batalon: Yeah, I was. I was traveling a lot the last couple of months and I just got back from Hawaii two weeks ago or so.

JW: Oh, that's nice. Seeing the family?

JB: Yeah. Yeah, they were really good. They were really happy to see me.

JW: How much do you remember of the first time that you came in to audition? The first time we met, if you will.

JB: It was first supposed to be a second self-tape and not a screen test. And then I was told, “No, they just want you to just fly to Burbank for some reason and then do a test.” I was in New York [at] drama school, and I was getting all this information while I was in school. And I was in the middle of a serious drama class, and I was flipping the f*ck out. It was incredible. I flew out during my spring break, and then I just remember going to that building; it was a very weird sort of—

JW: It was like a weird warehouse by the railroad tracks.

JB: Yeah. I was very nervous.

JW: Had you been to L.A. before?

JB: No, I've never — I mean I've never gone to L.A. by myself.

JW: Yeah. How did you sort of cultivate that sense of humor when you were growing up?

JB: I was a very lonely child. A lot of humor I found in cartoons. In school, it was really useful to do funny things like in the cartoons and have everyone just be your friend. [I was into] Tom and Jerry, Ed Edd n Eddy, and Dexter's Laboratory.

JW: Those are early, early acting inspirations. How old were you when you were like, “I should start acting” or “I could start acting”? Did you have a moment where you realized that that's something you thought you could do?

JB: Yeah. I mean, it was more like I wanted to be an entertainer just in general. I wanted to be a singer. [I was] just watching these kids from Disney Channel shows.... It was just something that I feel like I related to, in some sort of sense.

JW: Really? So you saw K.C. Undercover, and you could be like, I could work with K.C. Undercover one day.

JB: I guess. I feel like I thought these people could be my friends, but that was because I couldn't separate people from who they were playing in shows and stuff.

JW: So what was your first acting job?

JB: Well, my first job was Spider-Man.

JW: That wasn't your first performance. You did stuff in school too, right?

JB: Yeah. I was at drama school for a year and a half. I got into drama school, and I was afraid to leave home, but then I kind of just moved out and ended up in New York. And it was crazy. I kind of just got accepted at school last second, and I dropped out of community college and just moved out.

JW: That's so exciting. That's what happened to me too. Going from a really small town to New York City is a very, very intimidating and exciting experience.

JB: I had no idea how—what to expect and everything. Everything in my life from that time afterwards is something I don't regret at all.

JW: What was the most surprising thing about going from drama school to summer blockbuster?

JB: I think the most surprising thing was just how big of a scale and level Marvel and Hollywood movies are compared to doing an independent movie. Everyone works just as hard, but it's just crazy. And technically speaking, it was insane to travel the world and work in different locations. I was not expecting to do these things at such a young age. So just my experience from doing nothing in drama school to all of a sudden being in London, filming the scene on the Tower Bridge [was crazy].

JW: All right. When was the first time you saw yourself represented onscreen?

JB: I would see shows like Hawaii Five-0 and stuff like that, which was really great, but it wasn't really any one [person] per se. I know a lot of Asian actors now who are successful. That's really just — that's something I never saw before. So yeah. Besides Jackie Chan.

JW: What do you think Ned should get into in the next movie?

JB: I don't know. I feel like he's pretty ready to be more mature now. I think that the summer abroad really helped him understand his perspective on stuff. Oh, and also maybe becoming evil. I think it’s time he becomes a villain.

JW: Yeah? That could be really good. All right, I'll put that on the board. [Laughs.] What brings you joy right now? What are you up to these days that's fun and makes you happy?

JB: Besides all the traveling that I've done this year? I got to spend a lot more time with my family back home. I feel like I get to see them quite a bit more [these days]. And I mean it was just meeting new people in these new places that really, really made me feel like life is very affirming, and I'm trying to write songs and stuff.

JW: Oh, nice. Would you have any advice for someone who found themselves in your crazy situation? In going from drama school into a Marvel movie. Would you have any advice, do you think, for anyone?

JB: I feel like there's this sort of difference between people who want to be famous and people who work towards being a better person, being good at what they do. And it's just about your passion and believing in yourself because no one else will ultimately put you where you want to be — [it’s about] self-love and perseverance.

JW: In your wildest dreams, what does the future of your career look like?

JB: I'd hope to be in a lot more films, work in different sorts of parts, and just be satisfied with what I want creatively and...I kind of want to do things with [charitable] foundations, when I'm more established and more just financially stable.

JW: Yeah. That's a great, man. Well, I got to tell you, you're so good, and I am so happy that you came into that creepy warehouse by the railroad tracks.

JB: Thank you so much for giving me that chance.

Meet the rest of Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Class of 2020.

Stylist: Chris Horan (@chrishoran20)

Makeup Artist: Lottie using TYNT Beauty (@lotstar)

Hair Stylist: Lauren Palmer Smith using Shu Uemura (@laurenpalmersmith)

Manicurists: Jacqueline Yekikan (@nails_by_jacqueline), Merrick Fisher (@merricures)

Set: Justin Fry (@jebuz)

Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Meet Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Class of 2019

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue