Fil-Am 'Spider-Man' star Jacob Batalon posts new look on Instagram
Filipino-American actor Jacob Batalon shocked and wowed fans online with his latest look on Instagram. On Friday, October 9 (U.S. time), the Spider-Man actor revealed a dramatically leaner physique.
The actor posted a mirror selfie wearing a corduroy jacket and cap on his Instagram account @lifeisaloha as a celebratory post for his 24th birthday.
"Don't try to get at me...imma be vibin all day [emojis]," Jacob captioned his post, to his 1.3 million followers.
The actor also called out those who had been body-shaming him on his previous appearance, adding "by the way, while I appreciate the concern, people can stop telling me to lose weight now. #kobeyear"
As of this writing, the photo has garnered 360,000 reactions and a mix of both praise and concern from fans in the comments section for the body transformation. Comments were also peppered with well-wishes and congratulatory messages for Batalon's birthday.
Batalon rose to stardom playing Ned Leeds, the best friend of Peter Parker portrayed by Tom Holland in most recent Spider-Man films under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Batalon, born in Hawaii to Filipino migrant parents, is the first actor of Filipino descent to appear in an MCU film.
In Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) and Spiderman: Far from Home (2019), his character was depicted as the charming and chubby sidekick who supports Peter Parker throughout his adventures.
A few fans theorized that the weight loss might be in preparation for a new take on his Spider Man character. At one point in the Marvel comics, Ned works as a reporter for the Daily Bugle and is brainwashed into serving as stand-in for the villain Hobgoblin.
Some readers pointed out that Ned might turn to the dark side in Spider-Man 3, and that Batalon's physique is related to his movie role.
"Okay, I see what's going on. We're totally getting Ned-Hobgoblin in MCU," one fan wrote in the comments. Another added, "Getting that body for Hobgoblin?!? Love to see it!"
Spider-Man 3 is currently expected for release in theaters on December 17, 2021, with film production resuming in the U.S. this October.
(Images via Jacob Batalon/@lifeisaloha on Instagram)