After years of gaining experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: No Way Home actor Jacob Batalon has reflected on what those films have taught him. For five years, the young actor has portrayed Peter Parker's best friend and sidekick, affectionately known as the "man in the chair." He appeared in all three Spider-Man films, as well as having brief cameos in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In No Way Home, Batalon played a crucial part of the story in which he was instrumental in uniting Parker with alternate multiverse versions of the hero in an attempt to return their respective villains back to their own universes. That film proved to be Batalon's biggest Spider-Man film, pulling in over $1.8 billion at the box office.

Batalon's first major acting role was opposite Tom Holland's Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Ned Leeds, Parker's closest friend and eventual sidekick. Ned ends up being the only person Parker can turn to during his journey becoming the hero Queens, NY and the world needs him to be. By the end of No Way Home, Ned along with the rest of the world had their minds wiped of any knowledge of Parker's existence, leaving the titular hero alone but able to begin a brand new chapter as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

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In a recent interview with THR, Batalon opened up about what he has learned while being a part of the MCU superhero franchise. With the series being part of his first major step in the movie industry, Batalon appears to be appreciative of his time in the MCU, absorbing as much as he can from the experience to use to further his career past this chapter of his life. Read more of what the actor had to say below.

"It’s pretty cool. I was more than grateful to have been a part of such an amazing process, and it’s taught me a lot about success, about how to conduct myself in the industry. I just came away with a lot of knowledge, knowledge I think that really helped me with my TV show. Just how to carry myself in a manner in which people are willing to look and listen to me, to come to me for advice. It helped me be able to carry a show like this."

Jacob Batalon Recalls First Time On Spider-Man Set

Although Ned Leeds' future in the MCU is left uncertain at the end of No Way HomeBatalon isn't worried about forever being associated with Marvel and being pigeonholed into one type of role. The actor explained that he understands the nature of Hollywood and that he must navigate the system the best he can to in order keep his career going. Batalon added, "the industry is a game, and you have to play the game in order to beat the game." The actor is attached to lead a new horror-comedy series for the SyFy channel called Reginald the Vampire in which Batalon plays the titular character who must come to grips of his unexpected vampire existence.

Following the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Batalon appears to have fully embraced his time as Ned Leeds, cherishing the experience and the knowledge that the multi-billion dollar franchise has given him. Although there is a chance for Ned to return to the MCU, Batalon seems to have accepted the opportunity to branch out and challenge himself as an actor. After five years of being a sidekick, Batalon is ready to step to leading man status and be the star in his upcoming series Reginald the Vampire, which is expected to debut on SyFy this summer.

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Source: THR

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