Jake Johnson isn’t necessarily thrilled about the idea of ever putting on tights to play a live-action Peter B. Parker, but he would do it if Chris Miller and Phil Lord were involved.
Speaking with ComicBook.com, Johnson was asked if he’d ever be interested in playing Peter B. Parker, who he voices in both 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, in live-action.
Johnson answered, “I really love how it is. I think the animation is great. I think for me, truthfully, it’s all about Phil Lord and Chris Miller. If Phil Lord or Chris texted and said, ‘We think this is really cool and we would like you to be part of it,’ then I’m in. If it’s Sony that says they have got a really fun idea and it’s a new director who’s at a great studio rate, I feel less excited about that. I think that a lot of this stuff is … There’s an element that’s just money to make money, and projects just to make money. And then there’s a few people who really care, and those people who really care, if it’s them, I’m on board for anything.”
Jake Johnson is always pitching new Peter B. Parker stories
He continued, “If Phil says, ‘Hey, man, you’re not going to like this, but we’re going to put you in tights in front of a green screen,’ but it’s him and it’s Chris, I’m like, ‘The project’s going to be so thoughtful and good and mean so much to so many people, and if you think I could help that, f-ck yes, I’m in.’ But in terms of me individually having a desire, I don’t. I love Peter B. Parker as … I will say this: I would be so sad if I got a call that Peter B. Parker is not returning to the Spider-Verse, because I feel really attached to that character. And Phil and I will go out, or we’ll text a lot, and I’m always pitching on Peter B., and I’m trying to fight to honor him. I want to make sure … He’s funny, but he’s our Spider-Man. He means something and we always go back, and he means a lot to me as a character. I love playing him. So anything outside of that, I don’t give it much thought.”
The third installment in the Spider-Verse franchise, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, does not yet have an official release date after it was removed from Sony’s release calendar in July 2023.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, meanwhile, is currently streaming on Netflix.
