Fil-Am Jacob Batalon ties the knot as ‘Spider-Man’ shatters records

LOS ANGELES – It’s a swinging good time for Jacob Batalon, thanks to “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The Filipino American actor can now claim to star in a movie that holds the record for the biggest domestic box office opening weekend of all time with $360 million and the highest-grossing film worldwide so far with $1.1 billion.

To make it a sweeter time for the Honolulu, Hawaii native Jacob, whose immigrant parents, Nestor and Vangie Batalon, came from Pangasinan in the Philippines, he recently married Veronica Leahov, whom he began dating in 2019.

The surprise happy news accidentally came out when Jacob referred to Veronica as his wife at an interview to promote his fourth “Spider-Man” standalone movie as Ned Leeds.

Jacob proposed to Veronica in a romantic evening in New York in March last year.

In his Instagram photo post showing him on bended knees, proposing to Veronica amid a backdrop of a large heart-shaped arrangement of red roses, the Brooklyn Bridge and New York skyline, Jacob commented with heart emojis, “The beginning of the rest of our lives together.”

Flash forward to last month. Jacob and Veronica, an interior and architectural designer, quietly tied the knot.

Who is Veronica Leahov?

So who is Mrs. Jacob Batalon? She was born in Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe. Veronica lived in Belgium for several years and took her master’s degree in interior design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She founded Veroh, a luxury interior design and home décor brand.

People magazine reported that the Fil-Am actor first revealed that he and Veronica got married during a Heart interview with him and his “Spider-Man” costars and close friends, Tom Holland and Zendaya. When the three stars talked about their nicknames, Jacob quipped, “My wife calls me big dog. She doesn’t. I wish she did.”

The three pals’ life events seem synchronized. The two couples’ engagement announcements came out within two months of each other. And they revealed their marriages within six weeks of each other.

Jacob, who starred in the title role in Syfy’s dramedy series, “Reginald the Vampire” (he spoke Ilocano in one episode), teased Tom and Zendaya about the timing of their respective proposals in a Metro Entertainment interview. He was quoted as saying, “We did not know about each other’s plans like that. But I will say I thought about it first.”

According to People, Jacob cracked, “They copied me. I feel like they took my shit. That was my shit first!”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Veronica Leahov (@veroleahov)

People also reported in January that the 29-year-old actor said about his and Veronica’s wedding plans: “It’s almost done. I have not planned anything at all. So my fiancée, she’s really good at it. I genuinely just was like, ‘Tell me when and where and I’ll make it.’ ”

However, the Filipino and Hawaiian in Jacob inspired him to say to Entertainment Tonight what he’d like to see on his big day with Veronica, “Some adobo for sure. I kind of wanna wear some aloha shirts instead of a tuxedo.”

Veronica reportedly had a bachelorette celebration in the Hamptons in late June 2026.

In an Instagram photo post showing her and Jacob at the “Brand New Day” premiere in Los Angeles, Veronica wrote about Jacob, “What an incredible milestone @lifeisaloha! I’m endlessly proud of you. Watching how much love people have for you, and seeing you continue to inspire so many, is something I’ll never take for granted.

“Now for the plot twist…Right as we were walking out of the hotel, my dress completely ripped open. Five minutes before leaving. Cue the panic. Thankfully, I had a backup outfit, changed in record time, and somehow we still made it.

“Here’s to unforgettable premieres, unexpected wardrobe disasters, and celebrating the people you love most.”

Jacob replied, “You’re amazing and incredibly supportive and strong for me. Your backup fit was FITTING.”

Jacob Batalon, ‘Brand New Day’

Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds in ‘Spider-Man – Brand New Day.’ Photo from Sony Pictures

All this good news for Jacob is well-deserved. In person, he is affable and easygoing.

“The Wrecking Crew” and “Novocaine” star is also called the “CEO of Sex,” which began as an internet joke, an offshoot of a meme trend where wholesome or unexpected personalities are given nonsensical corporate titles. Jacob is reportedly a good sport about the absurd title, joking that it is an honor.

In “Brand New Day,” Jacob continues to be an appealing presence as Ned. The actor’s good chemistry with Tom and Zendaya remains among the franchise’s winning appeal. Now playing adults, the trio are even more watchable.

Jacob’s Ned has evolved into a bigger part – a “genius upgrade,” a writer termed it – as a fresh MIT graduate who invents techie apps, including a Spidey Tracker. Jacob has a natural, low-key charm that is even more evident and engaging in “Brand New Day.”

Four films over ten years of Tom and Jacob as Peter and Ned have made the pair among cinema’s best male friendship pairs, along with iconic duos that include Butch Sundance and the Sundance Kid, Frodo and Sam, Harold and Kumar, Murtaugh and Riggs, Wallace and Gromit, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton deserves a big credit for reinvigorating the franchise on its fourth installment and drawing renewed energy from the three mainstays, Tom, Zendaya and Jacob.

With “Brand New Day,” Destin, born in Hawaii like Jacob, scored a historic achievement for the largest box office opening weekend ever for an Asian American director.

‘Rest in paradise, Lola’

Mary Rivera, Ned’s beloved Lola, in ‘Spider-Man – No Way Home.’ Photos from Sony Pictures

A poignant note amid “Brand New Day’s” box office-shattering performance is that it brought up the memory of Mary Rivera, Ned’s Lola (Grandmother) in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” who died at age 82 last April in Hawaii, where she lived most of her life.

In a comment on Instagram, Jacob wrote, “Rest in paradise, Lola.”

Some superhero movie fans tagged the Iloilo, Philippines-born actress as Marvel’s beloved Grandma. Mary stole a scene with the stars, Jacob, Tom, Zendaya and Andrew Garfield, when she commanded Ned to tell Spidey, no less, in Tagalog: “Ned, sabihin mo diyan sa mamang ’yan na alisin ang mga agiw sa sulok, ha.”

According to the actress’ obituary, “Mary Egida Rivera, 82, of Mililani, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, in Honolulu. She was born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo, Philippines, to the late Vicente and Felicia Egida.

“Mary was a retired Missionary for the church. She was also cast in the Spider-Man movie, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ as the Filipino grandmother. She was very proud of this accolade.”

Coincidentally, Jacob, Destin and Mary not only share Asian American roots but also a connection to Hawaii.

Veronica recently changed her name on her website to Veronica Leahov Batalon. Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Batalon!

Ruben V. Nepales is an LA-based journalist whose honors include nine first prizes from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and the Los Angeles Press Club’s Southern California Journalism Awards. He authored “Through a Writer’s Lens,” which won first prize in nonfiction at the 2020-2021 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. In 2004, he became the first Filipino voter of the Golden Globe Awards, He is a member of the Golden Globe Foundation, one of Hollywood’s biggest philanthropic organizations.

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