- “You can take the guy out of the chair, but you can't take the chair out of the guy.”
- ―Ned[src]
Edward "Ned" Leeds is a Marvel Comics character. He is Peter Parker's best friend in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is portrayed by Jacob Batalon.
Ned Leeds was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Background
Ned Leeds is Peter Parker's classmate and best friend, who is studying at Midtown School of Science and Technology.
He is a Star Wars fan and collects merchandise from the franchise, like a LEGO Death Star and an X-Wing toy.
Powers and Abilities
Although human, Ned gains magical abilities in Spider-Man: No Way Home, after gaining Doctor Strange's sling ring, with the power to be able to open magical portals.
Appearances
Spider-Man: Homecoming
- “You're the Spider-Man. From YouTube.”
- ―Ned discovers Peter Parker's identity.
Ned and Peter.
Ned Leeds is introduced as Peter's best friend and classmate. Having just gotten a LEGO Death Star, Ned invites Peter to help build it, which Peter unwittingly agrees to. That night, Ned visits the Parker Residence and waits in Peter's room. However, Ned soon catches Peter crawling on the ceiling and revealing himself as Spider-Man, much to Ned's shock. Over the next day, Ned bombards Peter with questions regarding his abilities as Spider-Man and even requests to be his "guy in the chair." During gym, Ned blurts out to Liz that Peter knows Spider-Man, causing her to invite them to her party. Ned tries to use Peter's Spider-Man identity to increase their social standings, but Peter is forced to leave to investigate an explosion. While he is gone, Ned is harassed out of the party by Flash Thompson, causing Peter to not return.
During the deal, Peter finds a Chitauri energy core and learns with Ned that it was fused with human technology. Peter joins the Academic Decathlon team to track down the Vulture, a supervillain using Chitauri technology to make weapons. At their hotel room, Ned disables the Spider-Man suit's tracker and training wheels and is entrusted with the core by Peter. The next day, Ned helps the team win, but while at the Washington Monument, the core's exposure to radioactivity causes it to explode and trap Ned and the team in the elevator. Luckily, Spider-Man saves the team.
Ned later attends the homecoming dance, but leaves after noticing Peter leaving. Soon, Ned assists Spider-Man in battling the Shocker and finally becomes Spider-Man's "guy in the chair" to help track down the Vulture, but is soon caught by a teacher and claims to be watching pornography to cover for his activities.
Avengers: Infinity War
Ned makes a brief appearance in the film. While on a field trip headed to MOMA, Peter asks Ned to create a distraction so he can leave the bus unnoticed. Noticing an alien spaceship, Ned alerts the others, screaming "we're all gonna die!", allowing Peter to put on his Spider-Man suit to go investigate.
While not seen, Ned is among the half of the universe obliviated by Thanos' snap.
Avengers: Endgame
Ned and Peter tearfully reunite at school.
In 2023, Ned is resurrected along with 50% of the universe, after originally being obliviated by Thanos' snap 5 years earlier. While it is unknown where Ned blipped back, it is likely around school or on the trip he and his classmates visited five years prior. A week following the Battle of Earth, Ned returns to school, where he reunites with his best friend Peter Parker. The two tearfully greet each other and hug, overwhelmed to see each other again.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
In the summer of 2024, Ned joins Peter and their classmates on a trip throughout Europe. On the last day of school, Ned tells Peter that he has a plan to be American bachelors in Europe, but Peter doesn't want to go through with that plan as he has his own: sit next to Michelle Jones, whom he has recently fallen in love with, and tell her how he feels.
While on their way to Europe, Ned sits next to Betty Brant to allow Peter to sit next to MJ (although this backfires), and Ned and Betty form a romantic relationship during the hours of the flight. Once the class arrive in Italy, Ned informs Peter that he has discarded his idea of "an American bachelor in Europe" and that he is now dating Betty, much to Peter's confusion. While Peter ties to get closer to MJ, Ned and Betty spend time together as a couple, including going on a gondola in Venice. However, their ride is interrupted by the arrival of Hydro-Man and the class is forced to flee back to the hotel, while Peter disguises himself to stop the attacks, while in his everyday wear and a mask, since everyone will see him as Spider-Man. That evening, Ned is knocked out by "Nick Fury"'s tranquiliser after asking what Peter will do with the attacks recurring, to which Peter tells Ned that Mysterio can handle it.
Following the attacks, the class travels to Prague where Ned finds out MJ knows Peter is Spider-Man, after walking in on her watching the hero change and after being attacked by a fire elemental while on the Ferris wheel with Betty. Peter tells Ned that MJ knows his secret after Ned tries to come up with an excuse as to why Peter is dressed up. Ned is then informed by Spider-Man and MJ that the attacks that have been happening have been caused by Mysterio himself and are illusions that cause real damage, from special tech. Once Spider-Man flies out the window, Ned interrupts a distracted MJ (who was checking Peter out) by claiming he has known his friend is Spider-Man for a long time, somewhat feeling jealous that he is no longer the only one who knows Spider-Man's identity other than May Parker.
Ned travels to London with MJ and their class while Peter goes to speak with "Nick Fury", before realising he and Maria Hill are illusions caused by Mysterio. Unknown to Ned and his classmates, Spider-Man has temporally been defeated by Mysterio and found himself in the Netherlands. Once arriving in London, Ned tries to reassure MJ that the sky they are seeing is all fake. The bus is suddenly attacked and the class all flee. Sometime later, Ned, MJ, Betty and Flash Thompson are found by Happy Hogan, who Ned recognises, while MJ asks who he is and Flash is excited to meet someone associated with his hero; Spider-Man. Happy tries to get everyone onto the Stark jet, but it is blown up by Mysterio's attacks and they all go into the crown jewels volt, in the Tower of London.
Once in there, everyone believes they are about to die so confess a secret. Fearing death, Ned states he wasted his life playing video games, while Betty confesses to having a fake ID, Flash wants to have people like him, MJ is obsessed with telling people the truth, and Happy is in love with Spider-Man's Aunt May, much to everyone's confusion. Once Spider-Man stops the attacks, Ned and everyone is freed, while MJ goes after Peter to see if he is okay.
A while later, when the class are back in the United States, Ned and Betty revealed they broke up on their way back, after Peter suggests they go on a double date with him and MJ, whom he has just started dating. Ned and Betty end their relationship on friendly terms, and return to New York City with their friends.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Ned is interrogated by Agent Cleary.
A week following the European trip, Ned phones Peter while he is swinging across the city with his girlfriend, Michelle Jones, having learnt Parker has been framed for the attacks in London a week earlier, by Mysterio. Ned tries to check on Peter before MJ gets her boyfriend's attention as they are both on the bridge and she is terrified. Parker hangs up the call with Ned and rushes back to MJ, to see if she is okay and safe.
That evening, Ned is called into custody along with Peter, MJ and his Aunt May and is questioned by Agent Cleary. Ned refuses to speak to Cleary but is tricked into admitting he knew about Peter being Spider-Man long before MJ, saying he is Peter's "guy in the chair". Realizing he has just accidentally confessed to Cleary, Leeds asks for his words to be stripped off the record, believing he will end up in jail for knowing Parker's secret.
Ned discusses college with Peter and MJ.
The following day at school, Ned, Peter and MJ are bombarded with press when they try to enter school, including Leeds' ex-girlfriend, Betty Brant. Leeds is asked how he knows Parker and is shocked to be insulted by a random person, with responding that he is Peter's best friend. He then learns that Flash Thompson has written a book about his so-called "friendship" with Parker. During lunch, Ned finds Peter and MJ on the school rooftop and interrupts the couple as they are about to share a kiss. Ned expresses his wants to share a place with Peter and MJ when they get into M.I.T and they discuss their future hopes.
After Peter asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell that allows people to forget that Parker is Spider-Man, it causes everybody who knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man from every universe to be pulled into their world. Ned and MJ are contacted by Peter to enlist their help in sending the villains home to their own worlds and save them from dying as soon as they go back. Ned, Peter and MJ are instructed by Doctor Strange to work in the undercroft of the New York Sanctum to find the villains, much to Leeds' amazement of an undercroft. Leeds asks Doctor Strange how he knew he was magic since Ned was informed by his grandmother that magic is within his family blood, to which the former doctor tells him he should see a medical doctor about this information. Leeds and MJ are then introduced to the villains who are locked up - Dr. Otto Octavius and a man named Curt Connors who was transformed into a lizard. Leeds believes Connors is a dinosaur, which confuses everyone, especially Connors.
- “Lets catch some multiverse men.”
- ―Ned
Ned trying to locate the Green Goblin.
Later that evening, Leeds, Parker and MJ are working in the undercroft to locate the other displaced person that Peter saw on the bridge earlier that day when he fought Doc Ock, whom calls a ghost as he knows that Norman Osborn died years ago. While Peter goes on patrol as Spider-Man, Ned and MJ stay at the New York Sanctum and help Peter via phone, while being able to see everything he can through his suit. Peter soon sees a different displaced person and watch as Peter fights this multiversal traveller, while meeting yet another person from a different world who mistakes Peter for a different Peter Parker from his world, introducing himself as Flint Marco.
When Doctor Strange finds where Parker is and the villains he located, Ned and MJ are reunited with him and agree to send them back to their respective worlds without the chances of dying fighting their universes Spider-Men. Ned and MJ then learn Peter fought Doctor Strange for the device that will send the villains back and won. Peter gives Ned the sling ring to look at which he took from Strange after trapping him in the Grand Canyon. Parker told Leeds and MJ that he plans to find the Green Goblin to cure him along with every other displaced villain and instructs them both to hide somewhere safe and Peter will text MJ to press the button that will send the villains home. Ned does his signature handshake with Parker, which causes a spark of magic to appear and Ned takes MJ to his Nona's house, to await the text from Peter.
Ned with alternate versions of Peter Parker.
A few hours pass and neither Ned or MJ have heard from Peter so turn on the news to find out that Happy Hogan's condo complex has been destroyed from a battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, who had just re-corrupted Norman Osborn's mind. From the news podcast, Ned and MJ learn that Peter's Aunt May has been killed from the attacks and wish they could see Peter to comfort him. Ned manages to conjure a portal from the sling ring, learning he does indeed have magical abilities. Ned opens the portal and meets a man who reveals his name is Peter Parker and is the Spider-Man in his world, but was brought to this reality. Now knowing he opened the portal to the wrong Peter Parker, Ned tries again but an older guy who introduces himself as Peter Parker walks through instead. Learning alternate Peter Parker's exist in the multiverse, Ned starts to wonder if other versions of himself exist in alternate realities. While speaking to the older versions of his best friend, Ned informs them that he and MJ have no idea where their Peter Parker is since he has been quiet.
With the help of the alternate Peter Parker's, Ned and MJ find their Peter mourning his aunt on the roof of their school and comfort their distraught friend, with Leeds hugging Parker while MJ kisses him. They then introduce this Peter to the alternate versions of himself and learn that they too have been through the same loss, in the form of Gwen Stacy and Unce Ben. With the encouragement from his alternate selves, Peter agrees to help cure the villains, even the Green Goblin who killed May, and Ned and MJ offer to help.
- “I promise I won't turn into a super-villain and try to kill you.”
- ―Ned to Peter Parker
Ned has a tearful goodbye to Peter, who assures him he will come and find Ned.
While making the cure, Ned speaks with the Peter who fought the Green Goblin and learns he had a best friend named Harry Osborn, who tried to kill him and died in his arms. Uncomfortable with this information, Ned tells the Peter from this world that he promises he won't turn into a supervillain and try to kill him, much to Parker's confusion. Ned and MJ stay in the house until the portal is opened and they see mainstream Spider-Man trying to stop Lizard. Both MJ and Ned are on the Statue of Liberty scaffolding and both start to fall. While MJ is saved by The Amazing Spider-Man, Ned is saved by Doctor Strange's cloak of levitation. Following the battle, Ned and MJ learn they will forget their relationship and friendship with Peter so the multiverse doesn't break. Ned and MJ tearfully try to resist and to come up with a plan, to which Peter tells them it's the only way, but promises he will find them and explain everything to them. Crying, Ned hugs Peter and they do their handshake one last time before Parker and MJ tell each other they love one another and share a final kiss as Ned watches on. The spell then takes effect as Parker looks on at the woman he loves and his best friend, before departing as the sun rises.
A few weeks later in December, now with his identity intact, Peter goes to the Peter Pan Donut & Pastry shop where he finds both Ned and MJ. Ned is reading his acceptance letter to M.I.T. as he praises Jones for her positivity in the school spirit. Ned watches as Peter decides to not tell him or MJ about their relations with him and notices MJ have a glimpse of recognition for her forgotten love. Ned then sees this young man leave the shop with no idea who he is.
Trivia
- In the comics, Ned Leeds is the name of a co-worker from the Daily Bugle. Ned would be brainwashed by the super-villain Roderick Kingsley into becoming the Hobgoblin as a scapegoat if Kingsley, the real Hobgoblin ever got caught. Ned would go on to be involved in New York's criminal-underworld with figures, like the Kingpin and the Rose, until his usefulness ran out, leading to him being assassinated to be replaced with a new Hobgoblin decoy.
- Ned's personality, appearance and relationship to Peter is similar to the character of Ganke Lee. Ganke Lee was the best-friend, confidant and roommate of Miles Morales, the Spider-Man of Earth-1610.
- Ned Leeds' role in Peter Parker's life is similar to the one of Harry Osborn from the comics and both Spider-Man film-series prior to the MCU; Harry Osborn having been Peter's closest friend during high school who he was distanced from due to their changing lives. In the aforementioned Earth-1610 and many other adaptations, it was Harry Osborn who became the Hobgoblin which is of-note considering that Leeds is most famous for having become Hobgoblin in the comics; in mainstream comics, Harry became the successor Green Goblin.
- Ned returns in Avengers: Endgame, but does not have any speaking lines. This is the first time Ned is seen with Peter, but has no lines.
- For Spider-Man: No Way Home, Ned's actor Jacob Batalon lost 120 pounds for the return of the character.
- Photos from Spider-Man: No Way Home shows that Ned joined the school football team.
- Ned's friendship and "guy in the chair" role with Peter is very similar with Tony Stark's friendship with James Rhodes/War Machine.
- Ned's actor, Jacob Batalon has stated he would like to see Ned take a dark turn and become the Hobgoblin.[1]
- If he does indeed become a villain this will make him similar to Harry Osborn from the previous two Spider-Man film franchises.
- Benedict Wong hopes to star alongside Jacob Batalon in a Disney+ show where Ned is Wong's apprentice in magic.[2]
- Jacob Batalon revealed that he is unsure if he will return as Ned Leeds for Spider-Man 4, but does hope to come back.[3]
- There is a character named Ganke Lee in the Marvel's Spider-Man game series and Sony's Into the Spider Verse film series, based on Ned's friendship with Peter Parker. Ganke is the best friend of Miles Morales/Spider-Man, who helps Miles in the role of Spider-Man and acts as his "guy in the chair", just like Ned does with Peter. This is referenced in the second film, where Ganke calls himself Miles' "guy in the chair", a direct reference to Ned Leeds.
Gallery
References
External links
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