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With the recent release of Thor: Love and Thunder, phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is shaping up to be the biggest, most ambitious phase yet. With all other projects in the works, it’s plain to see that the MCU is expanding, and at some point or another, more characters will start showing up – and one of them has to be Spider-Man, Miles Morales, to be exact.
This alternate version of Spider-Man first made its debut in the official Marvel comics over a decade ago but has already accelerated in popularity as one of the most popular characters in the series publication. This is no small part due to his status as the first major depiction of Spider-Man that was a person of color, as well as the incredible success of 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, which is set to get a sequel next year.
It is no question that Miles Morales’s debut in the MCU at some point, but the real question is: who will portray him? There are so many young, black actors in Hollywood that could easily fit the role. Still, a character as popular and beloved as Miles Morales’ Spider-Man deserves the perfect fit, especially for his MCU debut. That’s why this list will focus on 5 of our personal favorite choices and why they would be perfect for the character. While not every choice will be perfect, they would bring something unique to the MCU and have a lot of talent under their belts, so we hope to see either of them take on the role.
1. Myles Truitt
On top of already having a similar name, Myles Truitt is an actor that is no stranger to playing superpowered characters. He is perhaps most recognized for playing the role of Issa Williams in the Black Lightning series, a meta-human with the ability to force people to tell the truth.
Truitt depicts the character with a genuine and believable air to the rather intense circumstances he goes through, especially with his status as a meta-human, which is exactly the kind of realism a character like Miles Morales needs. While in his 20s, he’s no stranger to playing younger roles and could easily be a teenager in New York learning all the limits of his strange, new powers. His recent appearance in season 4 of Stranger Things also helped to show just how well he can go into character, which makes him a prime candidate for the role of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man in the MCU.
2. Caleb McLaughlin
Another actor who is no stranger to being involved in the supernatural, Caleb McLaughlin, is an actor whose fame has been amplified in recent years due to his role as Lucas Sinclair in Netflix’s Stranger Things. This is a role that also shows his ability to depict a younger character despite his adulthood, as well as the range of emotions he can portray.
He’s a fine young man and a fine actor all around, and the energy he would bring to the MCU, and the character of Miles Morales ‘ Spider-Man would be awesome to see on a much bigger screen. He’s shown he has the skill to cleverly balance both serious and humorous tones, which is essential, especially in something like the MCU.
3. Jaden Smith
Many people probably wouldn’t expect this one, but Jaden Smith is an actor that should not be downplayed as much as he is. He’s been in numerous roles as a youth that show he has the skills to give a believable and sometimes heartfelt performance, such as in his first major role in 2006’s the Pursuit of Happyness at the mere age of 8. Most people will only point out the stumbles he’s had in his acting and professional career, but a few stumbles on the road are to be expected for anyone, and what matters is getting back up – sounds familiar.
His career as a musician also gives him points, as Into the Spider-Verse gave a good glimpse into Miles’s love of music, and Smith definitely has the personality to sell that. While he may not be the most popular choice, he is a good one nonetheless, and it would be fun to see his interpretation of a character like Miles.
4. Justice Smith
Smith has quite a lot of experience under his belt for his age, having taken up roles in some major blockbuster hits in recent memory. Most might remember him from his role in 2019’s Detective Pikachu, but he is also famous for having starred as Franklin Webb in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Chester in the HBO Max series Genera+tion.
But apart from his acting credentials, Smith has the looks, style, and personality that are just right for a character like Miles, especially the looks part. But on top of that, his accomplishments as an actor would make it easy for him to sell the character as a teen even despite his age, and that alone would make him great as Miles Morales’ Spider-Man in an MCU film.
5. Tyler James Williams
Honestly, of all the people on this list, Williams is probably the one with the closest physical resemblance to Miles Morales. It’s almost uncanny but looks alone don’t make Williams a good choice. It’s all about whether he could play the character with the necessary flair and accuracy, and his history speaks for itself.
Most everyone recognizes Tyler for his roles prominent roles in AMC’s The Walking Dead series as well as his main role in the incredibly popular American sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. Still, Williams’ career is so much more varied. His appearances in multiple movies, from Let It Shine to 2017’s Detroit to 2014’s Dear White People, show the many ranges he can portray, which would be essential to give an authentic, likable depiction of Miles Morales.
The only major issue would be his age, more so than the others since he is close to his 30s, but it’s possible Marvel could either work their magic or sell the idea of an older depiction of the character. Perhaps in a Spider-Verse-esque storyline?
Regardless, Tyler James Williams would make a great Miles Morales in the MCU for his already striking resemblance to the character on top of his rather impressive resume.