Could Jacob Batalon return as Spider-Man’s true villain? The actor speaks on the idea of him playing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Hobgoblin.
Following the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, concept art was released showing off Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds riding a Goblin glider with a similar color scheme to Hobgoblin. This led many to speculate the actor would return to the MCU as a villain. However, according to Leeds, there was never serious discussion about a heel turn in the film.
“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Batalon told CBR in a recent interview. “Again, we may have talked about things, for sure, but I don’t know if it would’ve really led to anything serious about being a villain, or anything like that.”
Given how massive of a project Spider-Man: No Way Home was, it makes sense that certain ideas were simply suggested but never taken seriously. Ned Leeds’ transformation into the Hobgoblin would’ve overcomplicated an already complicated film, and the concept art was likely only a nod to the character’s comic origin. However, that doesn’t mean Jacob Batalon is against playing a Spider-Man villain.
Jacob Batalon Reveals His Hopes For An MCU Return
Even if there weren’t any serious plans for Ned Leeds to become Hobgoblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen in a future film. When speaking about his potential return to the MCU, Jacob Batalon admitted that he’d be open to anything. However, as of current, he’s left in the dark about what his future might be.
“I’m open to anything, and I think we all are open to anything,” Batalon continued. “Unless you’re like a superhero, like big time, one of the main ones they’re trying to make movies about, you don’t really know what’s going to happen. In the industry, people don’t want to hope to wish.”
“So, I would hopefully [return]. I’m down for anything. I would love to be a part of something special again. But also at the same time, I understand it’s a business, and people may not want that thing anymore, so I’m just being more realistic than anything else.”
It certainly makes sense, given how tight of a ship the MCU is, that Jacob Batalon wouldn’t know much. However, the idea of Ned Leeds making a return as Hobgoblin is something that hasn’t left fans’ minds ever since Spider-Man: No Way Home released. And with the next installment still in production, there may very well be a chance for Batalon to turn to sin(s past)!
Spider-Man: No Way Home is now available to own on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding Spider-Man’s Marvel Cinematic Universe future and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!