Stranger Things Star Reveals Which Marvel Character He Wants To Play After Years Of Fancasting

Stranger Things' actor Caleb McLaughlin revealed that he would love to portray Miles Morales' Spider-Man in the MCU.

McLaughlin, who portrays Lucas Sinclair in Netflix's hit science fiction series, Stranger Things, has been fancasted as Morales for quite some time now, with many viewers believing that he would be perfect for the role. In an interview with Variety, the actor stated that playing this iteration of Spider-Man would be an honor.

He also explained how much respect he has for the character. The actor said Morales' significance goes beyond any single person. He believed that the role carries a message that resonates with many people. He added that the young Spider-Man's experiences connected with audiences on a deeper level.

I think Miles represents something bigger than myself; it represents something bigger than most people. Also, being from New York and then just seeing the Spider-Verse” story, I just feel it’s really, really connected and I feel like a lot of people understand what that means.

McLaughlin has been a popular choice among Marvel fans to portray Morales since at least 2018, when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse first came out. Many people believed that the actor looked similar to the character. And the actor growing up in New York, just like Miles, only made him a better fit in their eyes.

Morales was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli. His first appearance was in Ultimate Fallout #4, which was released in August 2011. He then went on to get his very own comic book series, Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man, that ran from 2011 to 2013.

The character truly skyrocketed in mainstream popularity when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was released. The film's massive success earned it an Academy Award and introduced casual Marvel fans to a whole new iteration of the superhero. The movie also paved the way for a sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and a video game, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

A third film featuring Morales, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, is on the way. However, the release date keeps getting pushed back, leaving fans disappointed. It's currently scheduled to debut on June 18, 2027, although many are skeptical and believe that it might get delayed again, considering the studio's track record.