Marvel Roles You Never Realized Were Played By Sitcom Actors

Today, Donald Glover is widely viewed as a multitalented sensation, equally regarded for his music career as Childish Gambino and for creating the FX drama «Atlanta.» But one of Glover’s earliest breaks came when he joined the cast of Dan Harmon’s TV sitcom «Community.» Playing the former jock Troy Barnes, Glover gained a significant fan following, which sparked a 2010 social media campaign for him to play the titular superhero in the then-upcoming «The Amazing Spider-Man» film. 

The role of Peter Parker eventually went to Andrew Garfield. However, Glover sustained close ties to the web-slinging character, most notably being a major inspiration for the character of Miles Morales. «I saw him in the costume and thought, ‘I would like to read that book,’» said «Ultimate Spider-Man» creator Brian Michael Bendis to USA Today in 2011.

Glover has since appeared in two Spidey features, including the MCU’s «Spider-Man: Homecoming» and the animated «Across the Spider-Verse.» However, much to the chagrin of audiences, Glover still didn’t get the opportunity to play Spider-Man himself, instead taking on the role of Miles’ villainous uncle, the Prowler. But what many fans may not realize is that Glover’s first Marvel role was the character he originally inspired. He supplied the voice for Miles Morales’ first onscreen appearance back in 2015, making a short appearance in the Disney XD animated series «Ultimate Spider-Man.»