In the MCU, who plays Ned Leeds?

In the MCU, Jacob Batalon plays Ned Leeds. He portrays Peter Parker’s best friend across the Spider-Man films and becomes one of the first people to learn that Peter is secretly Spider-Man.

Batalon’s Ned is introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming as a student at Midtown School of Science and Technology. After discovering Peter’s identity, Ned enthusiastically serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping him monitor threats and organize information during the conflict with the Vulture.

The MCU version differs from the original comics character in important ways. Comic-book Ned Leeds is a Daily Bugle reporter who is eventually connected to the Hobgoblin identity, while the films portray Ned as a teenage student with a talent for computers and a close friendship with Peter and MJ. Batalon returned in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.