Shameik Moore slings webs as 1st biracial Spider-Man in film

A journal entry penned when Shameik Moore was teenager laid out one of his dreams — to play Spider-Man on the big screen. That dream is now partially realized with Moore serving as the voice of the web-slinger in the new animated film, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ."

Moore plays Miles Morales, a biracial Brooklyn teen who gains an array of superpowers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. Morales melds his superpowers, including enhanced hearing, wall-crawling and camouflage abilities — while putting his own stamp on the character. Gone are Peter's Parker's blue-and-red outfits, replaced by a red-and-black version and a cool pair of sneakers.

Moore's ambition was to be the face of Spider-Man in a live-action film, something he still hopes will happen. But for now, he's happy to serve as Morales' voice in "Into the Spider-Verse," which is in theaters Friday and has already drawn rave reviews.

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"The story now is coming out through me. So with great power, comes great responsibility," he said, referencing an oft-repeated line from the Spider-verse of film and comics. "It's a black Spider-Man and he looks like me.

"It's a new time in Hollywood," said Moore, who is 23 and of Jamaican descent. "Not only are we in live-action superhero movies, but they are animating us now," he said. "I'm honored to be the first black Spider-Man (in a film)."

"Into the Spider-Verse" last week was nominated by the Golden Globes for best animated film, and has generated some Oscar buzz that could lead to a superhero showdown with "Incredibles 2" and "Ralph Breaks the Internet." It boasts a 99 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has drawn rave reviews for its visual style and deftly managing of a storyline that features six distinct versions of Spider-Man. The multiple Spideys team up to thwart a plot by Marvel supervillain Kingpin, who hatches a plan to wreak havoc across multiple realities.

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Moore almost had a divergent path to becoming Spider-Man. He first auditioned to play the webslinger years ago with other multiracial candidates, but the role of Spider-Man and his alter-ego Peter Parker ultimately went to Tom Holland, who made his debut in "Captain America: Civil War," anchored the stand-alone film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and had a key role in "Avengers: Infinity War."

The actor's fascination with Morales started after seeing Donald Glover voice the character on Disney's "Ultimate Spider-Man" a few years ago. The character was introduced in comic books in 2011 after President Barack Obama and Glover, inspired by Morales' creation, sported Spider-Man pajamas on a different TV show.

Moore recalled how director Rick Famuyiwa, who cast him in the 2015 film "Dope," considered him to play Morales in a live-action film, but he said those plans were scrapped after "somebody in power got switched around" and decided to make it an animated film.

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Producers of "Spider-Verse" said they went the animation route because computer graphic illustrators could mimic comic book movements better. With the process of blending CGI and hand-drawn animation, it took three years to develop "Into the Spider-Verse."

"Our animation is so exaggerated that the best stuntman in world couldn't do it," said Chris Miller, who co-produced the film with Phil Lord, one of its co-writers. The filmmaking duo is known for "21 Jump Street" and "The Lego Movie." ''At least in this film, he can move the same way as the comics. If anything, this doesn't box out a live-action Miles movie. It actually brings more awareness to it."

Moore says he hopes it happens sooner than later.

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"I'm very physical. I don't need the mask to do flips," he said. "I won't need a stunt double. ... But if they take like six, seven years, I'll be older and won't be able to play it."

Regardless of awards or box offices success, "Spider-Verse" cast members believe the film will inspire audiences. The movie explores Morales' biracial culture and upbringing of the character that swings around the city wearing Air Jordan sneakers.

"I can't imagine if I was a kid and there was a black or brown Spider-Man, I would have been so excited," said Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, who is the voice of Morales' uncle Aaron Davis aka Prowler. "This opens doors for a different generation to sort of believe in different possibilities. There's a generation that came into the world knowing Barack Obama was their president, and never thought it was strange or a huge feat. Hopefully, this can be the same."

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Brian Tyree Henry, who plays Morales' police officer father Jefferson Davis, called the film "necessary." He said he and Ali's characters showed the importance of having strong men in the teen's life.

"I teared up sometimes. It made me think about my upbringing," said Henry, who stars in "Atlanta" and "If Beale Street Could Talk." ''My father is still alive and in my life. ... The number of black men who (Morales) had in his life were actually there for him, guiding him. I love that the Marvel Universe is giving that representation a face, a name and giving it a superpower."

If "Spider-Verse" is successful, more films could follow.

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Shameik Moore, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"I think the studios would be very excited to make more of these," said Peter Ramsey, co-director with Rodney Rothman and Bob Persichetti. "Right now, it still has to come out and allow the audience to fall in love with it. There's so much potential."

Online: http://www.intothespiderverse.movie

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Brian Tyree Henry, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Brian Tyree Henry, a cast member in "Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

SHANGHAI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday by talking with local government officials in Shanghai.

Blinken discussed local and regional issues with Chen Jining, the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai. He also planned to speak to students and business leaders before flying to Beijing for what are expected to be contentious talks with national officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Blinken arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday shortly before President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger the Chinese, including $8 billion to counter China’s growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan, the self-governing island that it regards as a renegade province, and immediately condemned the move as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok’s sale.

Still, the fact that Blinken made the trip — shortly after a conversation between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a similar visit to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and a call between the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs — is a sign the two sides are at least willing to discuss their differences.

“I think it’s important to underscore the value — in fact, the necessity — of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them,” Blinken told Chen.

“We have an obligation for our people, indeed an obligation to the world, to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,” he said. “That is the obligation we have, and one that we take very seriously.”

Chen agreed with that sentiment and said the recent Biden-Xi call had helped the “stable and healthy development of our two countries’ relationship.”

“Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries, and the future of humanity” he said.

Chen added that he hoped Blinken was able to get a “deep impression and understanding” of Shanghai.

Shortly after arriving, Blinken attended a Chinese basketball playoff game between the local Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, with the home team losing in the last seconds in 121-120 nailbiter.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, center, with U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai Scott Walker, left, while attending a basketball game between the Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, center, with U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai Scott Walker, right, while attending a basketball game between the Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, far right, arrive at the Grand Halls to meet with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hans with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining as they meet at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, talks with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, watches U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, left, shake hands with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)