‘Michael’ Breakout Juliano Valdi Says He Hopes to Play This Superhero in the MCU
Juliano Valdi has spent the past several months adjusting to a level of fame most 12-year-olds never experience, all while still looking forward to starting seventh grade this fall. His breakout performance as a young Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’ turned him into one of the year’s most talked-about new faces, and he’s using that momentum to set his sights on an even bigger role.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Valdi reflected on just how much his life has changed since the film’s April release, calling the experience surreal and admitting he never imagined starring in a movie, let alone one that would go on to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time. Despite the sudden attention, he says he’s staying grounded and grateful for the support he’s received.
That support has come from some genuinely legendary sources. Valdi recalled meeting Stevie Wonder at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, where the music icon personally praised his performance, a moment he described as making him feel completely fulfilled given Wonder’s status as one of music’s greatest figures.
Now, with ‘Michael’ behind him and speculation swirling about a possible sequel, Valdi is already looking toward his next dream role. He told Entertainment Weekly that he’s getting to the age where he genuinely hopes to play Miles Morales, admitting he isn’t quite 15 yet but would love the chance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Valdi’s interest in Miles Morales isn’t coming out of nowhere. Both Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ star Tom Holland have been vocal in recent months about wanting to bring the character into live-action, with Holland specifically expressing interest in personally mentoring whichever young actor eventually lands the role, much like Robert Downey Jr. once did for him.
For Valdi, the connection to Spider-Man runs deep. He shared that his love for the character started early, recalling how seeing Tobey Maguire’s ‘Spider-Man’ left a lasting impression on him as one of the best action movies he’d ever watched. He also noted, with clear enthusiasm, that his mom has told him he resembles Miles Morales, something he considers a fun bit of validation as he eyes the role.
Valdi’s performance in ‘Michael’ saw him portraying Jackson during his earliest days with the Jackson 5, appearing opposite Jaafar Jackson, who played the adult version of the King of Pop. Though the two actors never shared a scene together, Valdi described their bond as forever tying them together as “brothers,” praising Jaafar’s transformation into the role as better than anyone could have imagined.
With ‘Michael’ having crossed $1 billion at the global box office and talk of a potential sequel continuing to build, Valdi says he’s hopeful a follow-up film happens, though his attention has clearly already shifted toward new creative ambitions. Landing the role of Miles Morales would mark a dramatic pivot from biographical drama into full-blown superhero territory, but given the star power already advocating for the character’s live-action debut, Valdi’s interest adds another compelling name to an increasingly crowded conversation.
With ‘Michael’ now streaming on Starz and available with bonus behind-the-scenes content, Valdi’s next chapter remains very much unwritten.
Would you like to see Juliano Valdi take on the role of Miles Morales?
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