Miles Morales: Top Contenders to Portray the Next Spider-Man on the Big Screen
Miles Morales burst onto the Marvel comics scene in 2011 as the first black-Latino Spider-Man, providing a fresh face for the franchise by telling a 21st century coming of age superhero story rich with diverse representation. After gaining immense popularity across media, passionate fans are clamoring for Miles to make his live-action debut, igniting heated debate over which rising young actor has the talent to bring this fan favorite web-slinger to life.
Let’s analyze the top prospects with the skills and intangibles needed to do justice to Miles on the big screen when the Spider-verse decides it’s time for a new Spider-Man to spin his first MCU solo outing.
The Current Favorite: Lonnie Chavis
14-year old Lonnie Chavis has rapidly emerged as the consensus top choice among fans. what attributes make him such a formidable Miles candidate?
Background & Experience
Chavis captured attention playing young Randall Pearson for 3 seasons on NBC’s acclaimed drama This Is Us, showcasing immense emotional range in heavy storylines as the child version of Sterling K. Brown’s character. Lonnie earned a 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series as part of the show’s core cast.
With over 9 acting credits since 2016, including prominent guest roles on NCIS and The Passage, Lonnie has demonstrated versatility taking on diverse characters across procedural dramas and genre projects tailored to African American audiences. He showed off comedic chops starring in the 2022 film Vampire Academy based on the popular young adult book series of the same name.
Look & Physicality
Lonnie Chavis shares Miles Morales’ African American and Puerto Rican ancestry that enables him to authentically portray the character’s cultural heritage. With an infectious grin, cool hairstyles, and talent for mimicry, Chavis strongly resembles fan depictions of Miles. Lean and athletic at 5’3”, Lonnie can already execute flips and spins reminiscent of Spidey’s signature acrobatic fighting style.
What He Would Bring to Miles
Channeling Randall Pearson, Lonnie Chavis has repeatedly shown skill capturing the quick temper, anxiety, and tender sensitivity underlying Miles’ outward humor and brave face. Lonnie’s natural likeability and sitcom timing equip him well to handle the demands of a Marvel franchise anchoring both emotional drama and blockbuster action.
Rising Contender: Miles Brown
Miles Brown shares more than a name with Morales – this charismatic teen star boasts several attributes tailor-made for the comic book role.
Background & Experience
A series regular all 8 seasons on ABC’s hit comedy Black-ish alongside Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Brown ably handles both comedic and dramatic storylines as the family’s youngest child Jack Johnson. Now 14 years old, Brown’s acting repertoire covers sitcom humor, channeling Jack’s Little Leaguer awkwardness to growing pains navigating high school and first relationships – ideal preparation for capturing awkward adolescent Miles’ evolution into confident superhero.
Look & Physicality
With a mop of curly hair, mega-watt grin, and mixed ethnicity, Brown strongly resembles Miles Morales. An avid dancer and practitioner of martial arts, Brown moves with the agility and smooth footwork instantly recognizable as Spider-Man. Brown comments: “I started dancing as soon as I could walk. Any kind of dancing I could do, I was doing it…tap dance, jazz, hip hop, breakdancing”. At 4’10”, Brown fits the bill to play a 14-15 year old Miles suited up for the first time in the spider suit.
What He Would Bring to Miles
Miles Brown inhabits the youthful spirit at the core of Miles Morales. His comedic timing and lovable presence could compellingly balance the weight of tragedy in Miles’ origin story with humorous beats capturing a dorky, talented artist and science genius finding his footing while embracing great power he never asked for as Spider-Man.
Veteran Choice: Tyler James Williams
While on the older side at 29, experienced actor Tyler James Williams has the range, following, and proven talent to anchor an older Miles on the big screen – perhaps as an alternate universe college version or even a seasoned lead for the next era of Marvel’s Spider-verse.
Background & Experience
Williams entered the spotlight starring on Chris Rock’s hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris for 5 seasons as a teen, earning multiple NAACP Image Awards and 2 Young Artist Awards. He went on to notch over 40 acting credits over the past 16 years, including prominent roles in J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi series The Walking Dead, the music-fueled drama Let It Shine opposite Courtney B. Vance, and the 2015 sports biopic Dear Basketball based on Kobe Bryant’s retirement letter.
Standing at 5’9” with a lean, muscular build, Williams looks the part of a mature Miles still active as Spider-Man. As an experienced dancer and martial artist, Williams can clearly handle the extreme physicality of Spider-Man‘s combat sequences and web-slinging maneuvers.
What He Would Bring to Miles
Williams has both comedic and dramatic chops to bring depth to Miles, showing range playing both withdrawn, troubled characters as well as exuding natural charisma in lighter fare. Tyler James Williams has the work ethic and acting experience to lead a studio tentpole, with one decade in the spotlight under his belt and the talent still untapped to take his career to the next level.
The Comedy Choice: Caleb McLaughlin
As Lucas Sinclair, Caleb McLaughlin grew up before viewers’ eyes for 5 seasons battling demons on Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things. Approaching 21 but looking younger, Caleb could convincingly continue portraying a bright high schooler while bringing levity to offset the heavy expectations riding on Miles.
Background & Experience
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Stranger Things star since 2016, won 2018 Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
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Extensive dance training since age 3 specializing in ballet & hip hop; appeared in Broadway musical The Lion King
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Over 35 acting credits encompass indie dramas (Concrete Cowboy), voice roles (American Dragon: Jake Long), and Netflix animation (Karma’s World)
Look & Physicality
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5’5” height and slim athletic build align with lean acrobatic Spider-Man physique
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Expressive elastic face transitions easily between humor and emotional drama
What He Would Bring to Miles
Drawing on comedic chops honed from a young age, Caleb McLaughlin shines portraying intelligent, earnest characters like Lucas who uplift those around them. As Miles, Caleb would organically capture the character’s endearing geekiness, tenacity to master new challenges whether skateboard tricks or super powers, along with the natural athleticism enabling Spidey’s iconic combat maneuvers and web acrobatics feel effortless.
A Surprise Option: Jaden Smith
While not the conventional choice, Jaden Smith brings both name recognition as Will Smith’s son and a music background that provides a fresh dimension to playing Miles on screen.
Background & Experience
Jaden Smith brings blockbuster pedigree as star of 2010 Karate Kid remake and as Kitai alongside father Will in After Earth. Transitioning to music, he has cultivated an edgy, alternative hip hop persona with 3 full album releases and songs amassing 100+ million Spotify streams.
Look & Physicality
Smith’s rail thin 5’9” frame doesn’t scream superhero. But he could bulk up to capture a brooding college-age Miles channeling confidence through spitfire raps and eyebrow-raising antics as both Spider-Man and his socially-conscious music alter ego.
What He Would Bring to Miles
The comics highlight Miles’ half-Puerto Rican heritage and passion for street art & hip hop culture in Brooklyn. As an accomplished rapper himself, Jaden Smith can organically portray Miles relationship with music as self-expression, emotional outlet, and hidden arena to process anger over racial injustice and impatience for those with power yet reticent to effect real change.
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Comparing Contenders
With Miles Morales such a beloved fan favorite character, expectations for his eventual live action debut will run sky high. He’ll need to balance charismatic wit, tender sensitivity and steely determination once embracing his heroic mantle. Let‘s see how our contenders stack up across key considerations:
| Actor | Acting Ability | Physicality | Personality Fit | Star Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonnie Chavis | 9/10 | 8/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Miles Brown | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 |
| Tyler James W. | 10/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Caleb McLaughlin | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Jaden Smith | 7/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 9/10 |
Acting Ability
The young actor tackling Miles needs emotional depth to carry the full weight of tragedy suffered by Morales in Marvel’s established storyline – his police officer father killed thwarting a robbery, motivating Miles to reluctantly take up the Spider-man mantle. Veterans Tyler James Williams and Caleb McLaughlin edge out the pack here. But Lonnie Chavis and Miles Brown have tackled heavy material as well, just at earlier stages of their careers.
Physicality
Miles’ Spider-man needs nimbleness and athleticism to sell Spidey’s impossible leaps between skyscrapers and rapid reflexes dominating attackers. Miles Brown’s dance training makes him stand out in this area to recreate the combat scenes and fluid movements popularized by Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse’s striking visual style.
Personality
Miles subverts hotshot superhero tropes with a self-effacing sweetness and aim to do right to honor his late father. Lonnie Chavis and Miles Brown shine brightest here – their natural likeability and comedic timing best suited to balance heavier emotional tones.
Star Power
While name recognition shouldn’t outweigh other factors, proven fame does help secure budgets, promote projects, and anchor franchises long-term. Tyler James Williams and surprise contender Jaden Smith lead here based on households recognizing them from past starring film roles and music career success respectively. But a relative unknown could also make their name as the landmark live action Miles Morales.
Additional Contenders
In such a pivotal casting decision introducing a fan favorite into the lucrative Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio will thoroughly consider all options before confirming the actor to don Mile‘s signature black and red spider suit with webbed wings. Beyond the leading candidates already profiled, several additional rising stars deserve a look to potentially surprise as the MCU‘s Miles Morales:
Dallas Dupree Young
At just 17 with a black belt in karate, Dallas Dupree Young balances physical chops with emotional range that could compellingly capture Miles’ hero journey on screen. After starring as Kenny Payne in the YouTube Original Series Cobra Kai, Young is set to lead the Creed III film continuing the iconic Rocky franchise.
Marcel Ruiz
Best known as scene-stealer Alex Alvarez in Netflix sitcom One Day at a Time, 15-year old Marcel Ruiz shares Miles Morales’ hispanic heritage and quippy humor. Ruiz dances with smooth rhythm and bravado that could easily translate into nailing Spider-Man fight choreography.
Aryan Simhadri
A breakout as the scrappy and sarcastic Grover in Disney’s hit Cheaper by the Dozen remake on Disney+, Aryan Simhadri, 14, has the likeable sibling vibe tailor-made for Miles. As a martial artist himself focused on Taekwondo, Simhadri can clearly manage action-heavy training sequences on Miles’ path to becoming Spider-Man.
Optimal Storyline Placement
When and how Marvel Studios chooses to introduce Miles Morales into the cinematic universe raises almost as much intrigue as casting the role itself. Here are likely options ranked by probability:
Supporting Role in Existing Spider-Man Franchise
Many speculate Miles could show up in a Spider-man film alongside Tom Holland to set up a handoff when Holland decides to leave the red & blue spider suit behind. Similar to the Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse animated film, Miles as a Spider-man trainee could allow for lighter, comedic beats before the full gravity of being Spider-man weighs.
Likelihood: 8/10
Sony Spin-Off Solo Film
As Sony retains solo Spider-man film rights, the studio has clear incentive to launch a Miles-focused trilogy once Holland concludes his Spider-man arc. This path provides more blank slate creative freedom yet also risks confusing audiences if not handled as a clear universe expansion with Holland‘s Peter Parker properly passed the baton offscreen. This approach favors an older, more experienced version of Miles taking on the Spider-man solo spotlight right away.
Likelihood: 6/10
Far From Home Sequel Storyline
Building off the multiverse story seeds planted in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel could utilize interdimensional travel to introduce Miles as an alternate reality Spider-man who interacts with Holland’s Peter Parker on a special mission yet ultimately returns to his native universe a more seasoned hero, paving the way for his own solo outings.
Likelihood: 4/10
Conclusion
Miles Morales has struck an immediate chord with fans for providing an inclusive and progressive 21st century take on theSpider-man mythos. When Miles eventually does swing onto cinema screens, expectations will be sky high for capturing the essence of the beloved comic creation. Thankfully a deep talent pool of charismatic young actors seem eager to shoot their shot as Marvel’s next marquee superhero franchise face.
Lonnie Chavis and Miles Brown currently lead a wide open race – with focus on acting ability over star power or physical resemblance alone key to successfully translating Miles Morales’ signature humor, heart and heroics from page to screen. Yet wild cards like former child star Tyler James Williams and even unexpected picks like Jaden Smith each offer unique dimensions to a live action Miles. Ultimately filmmakers must strike the right balance between established acting chops and fresh unknown faces bursting with untapped on-screen potential ready to make the career-defining role their own.
One thing is certain, as the Multiverse continues to unspool infinite realities across Marvel’s comics and content, fans clamoring for the Discovery/Warner Bros. merger to open doors for Miles toMeet Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield on the big screen won’t need to wait long before a version of Miles Morales swings into cinematic action.