Fans of comic book hero Spider-Man who attended the San Diego Comic-Con last weekend were the first to learn an actorwith Hawaii ties will have a major role in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” when it arrives in movie theaters next summer.

Jacob Batalon, a 2014 graduate of Damien Memorial School, landed the role of Ned Leeds, best friend of Spider-Man’salter-ego, Peter Parker. In the original “The Amazing Spider-Man” comics, his character is eventually revealed as the villainHobgoblin.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” is the first in a projected series of films produced by Marvel Studios that depict a high school-aged Peter Parker in a reboot of the Hollywood franchise, which previously saw Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in thetitle role. Tom Holland will star as a teenage Spider-Man after making his debut earlier this year as the web-slinger in“Captain America: Civil War.”

Batalon, who recently graduated from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, was not immediately available forcomment.