As Sony charges ahead with its own cinematic universe based on Marvel Comics characters purely associated with Spider-Man, the introduction of a live-action Miles Morales seems inevitable. After Into the Spider-Verse introduced moviegoing audiences to Miles in animated form, the next step is to capitalize on the character’s newfound popularity with a live-action movie franchise.
Since transferring Tom Holland’s Peter Parker from the MCU might cause unwanted complications, it might be easier to make Miles the definitive Spider-Man of Sony’s Marvel franchise. These are the actors who could play him.
Justice Smith
Ever since playing the lead live-action role in the surprisingly well-received Detective Pikachu, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom supporting player Justice Smith has been one of Hollywood’s most promising rising stars with him being set to star alongside Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez in the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie.
While Smith’s roles in the Jurassic World and Detective Pikachu franchises will undoubtedly keep him pretty busy, he’d make an appropriately lovable Miles Morales if he could squeeze it into his schedule.
Tyler James Williams
It’s possible that, since Into the Spider-Verse already covered Miles’ origin story, any potential live-action adaptation would start with a twentysomething Miles who’s already a seasoned superhero.
If Sony starts with Miles already a few years into his superhero career, Tyler James Williams from Everybody Hates Chris and The Walking Dead would be a great choice. Based on his acclaimed performances in those shows, he’d bring a refreshing sense of humor to the role of Miles, but with an undercurrent of sweetness.
Rhenzy Feliz
Rhenzy Feliz is no stranger to playing Marvel Comics characters since he previously starred as Alex Wilder in Hulu’s short-lived Runaways series. Much like Miles Morales, Alex is a nerdy teenager who steps up to the plate when he’s required to become a hero.
While the Runaways show ended with its third season back in 2019, Feliz has kept busy. He’ll appear in a supporting role in George Clooney’s next directorial effort, The Tender Bar, which will star Ben Affleck, who (like Clooney) previously played Batman, and Tye Sheridan, who previously played Cyclops. Despite this commitment, Feliz’s schedule is wide open to include a decade-long on-screen arc as Miles’ Spidey.
Miles Brown
Best known for his role as Jack in Black-ish, Miles Brown would make a perfect Miles Morales for more reasons than just sharing his first name. He could play the character as a real teenager, allowing audiences to see him grow over the course of a lengthy arc.
Any potential Miles-centric Spider-Man movie would need a healthy dose of humor. Brown has been honing his comedic timing skills and holding his own in scenes opposite Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross since he was cast on Black-ish at just 10 years old.
RJ Cyler
Since he burst onto the scene with his endearing lead performance in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, RJ Cyler has been one of the most promising young stars on Hollywood’s radar. He starred in the TV shows I’m Dying Up Here and Scream, so he’s used to developing a character over time. He’s also set to appear in the upcoming Netflix western The Harder They Fall alongside such revered stars as Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, and LaKeith Stanfield.
Cyler appeared in the Power Rangers reboot, but that movie’s weak script failed to launch a franchise (and underserved Cyler’s talent). The actor needs a project like a Miles Morales solo movie that will actually earn sequels and allow him to explore a multi-part character arc over a few years.
Caleb McLaughlin
One of the most popular fan castings for a live-action Miles Morales is Caleb McLaughlin, best known for playing Lucas in Netflix’s ‘80s-set sci-fi horror hit Stranger Things. He was also included as an honoree in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
McLaughlin recently starred opposite Idris Elba in Concrete Cowboy and managed to hold his own alongside the seasoned star. He has the confidence and charisma to pull off a superhero role.
Alex R. Hibbert
Alex R. Hibbert, not to be confused with the polar expedition leader of the same name, only has a couple of screen credits to his name, but he’s already proven his immense talent. His turn as a young Chiron in the first segment of Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning masterpiece Moonlight proved his ability to play a relatable teenager in a coming-of-age narrative, which the role of Miles Morales would require.
Hibbert currently plays one of the lead roles in Showtime’s The Chi, but if he has the time to make a superhero movie every couple of years, he’d make a great Miles in a long-running Spider-Man franchise.
Shameik Moore
Maybe the most obvious choice for a live-action Miles Morales is the right one. Shameik Moore’s vocal performance in Into the Spider-Verse went beyond the character’s voice and really brought him to life. His nuanced voice acting alone gave the animators a reference point for body language.
If Sony casts Moore to play Miles in live-action form, then it wouldn’t need to be separate from the animated version. Moore’s Miles could simply graduate from animation into live-action.