Miles Morales is a fictional character voiced by Shameik Moore in the animated Spider-Verse film franchise produced by Sony Pictures Animation, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, more commonly known by his alias, Spider-Man. In the films, he is a 13-year old Afro-Latino transfer student at the prestigious Visions Academy private school, who is accidentally bitten by a genetically altered spider from the Alchemax Corporation, giving him superhuman abilities similar to that of his city's protector, Spider-Man. When he witnesses Spider-Man's unmasking as Peter Parker and subsequent murder at the hands of the nefarious crime lord Wilson Fisk, he is inspired to carry his mantle and embrace his role as Parker's successor, eventually being mentored by an alternate version of Parker from another reality within the Spider-Verse. He confronts and defeats Fisk with the help of an assemblage of Spider-People from across different realities, and discovering his individuality among them.

Debuting in the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), this incarnation of Morales received praise among critics and audiences alongside the film's critical and commercial success as well as Morales's Puerto Ricoan and African-American background. Moore will reprise his role as Morales in Into the Spider-Verse's sequels Across and Beyond the Spider-Verse (2023 and 2024).

The concept of an African-American iteration of the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man was discussed before the November 2008 election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States (POTUS). Axel Alonso, then-editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, described the catalyst as "we realized we were standing at the brink of America electing its first African-American president and we acknowledged that, when planning Ultimatum, maybe it was time to take a good look at one of our icons". This Spider-Man would only be intended to appear in publications for the Ultimate Marvel imprint (2000-2015), replacing that universe's existing Peter Parker / Spider-Man. Early consideration was made towards introducing Parker's successor as part of the event storyline "Ultimatum", but those ideas were abandoned due to the character's story having not yet been fully developed.^[1]

In 2011, Marvel's editorial staff decided that the Ultimate universe's Parker would die in the "Death of Spider-Man" storyline, conceiving the character of Miles Morales,^[2] marking as the second time a Latino character has taken the Spider-Man identity, after Miguel O'Hara in the Marvel 2099 imprint.^[3] Morales first appeared in Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011) by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli.^[4][1][5]

Following a second solo series under Ultimate Marvel, Marvel Comics culminated its ongoing narratives in the event storyline Secret Wars (2015), acting as a spiritual continuation of the 1984-85 storyline of the same name written by Jim Shooter. The story would feature the simultaneous collision and destruction of both the mainstream Marvel Universe, otherwise known as "Earth-616", and the Ultimate universe, known as "Earth-1610". While Miles in the narrative would escape their collision by infiltrating and boarding a spaceship designed by the Cabal, he and his acquaintances would find themselves placed on Battleworld, a planet constructed with the remains of destroyed alternate Earths that would come to be ruled by the self-appointed God Emperor, Doctor Doom. The storyline would conclude with a newly nourished Molecule Man thanking Miles for his selflessness by restoring Earth-616, while transporting and subplanting Miles with all his friends, family and associates in the new timeline, including the resurrection of his mother Rio Morales, previously killed in the Ultimate timeline by Conrad Marcus. Morales would thereby receive further solo series upon the character's integration into the mainstream continuity, including a run in 2016 by the original creative team of Bendis and Pichelli, and an ongoing series penned by Saladin Ahmed with art by Javier Garron.

Amidst the 2014 hacking of Sony's computers, leaked emails between now former co-chairman of Sony Pictures, Amy Pascal and president Doug Belgrad, revealed plans for the production studio to "rejuvenate" the Spider-Man film franchise by developing an animated comedy film with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who had previously collaborated with them on the Sony Pictures Animation productions Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and its sequel (2013), in addition to the live-action comedy films 21 Jump Street (2012) and 22 Jump Street (2014). While still in the position of co-chairman, Pascal had approached Lord & Miller regarding the prospect of making an animated Spider-Man movie, to which the duo agreed on the condition that they would be allowed to adapt the comic book storyline "Spider-Verse" (2014) written by Dan Slott, and on the condition that they could make the Miles Morales iteration of Spider-Man the film's main protagonist. The script would be written by Phil Lord in collaboration with Rodney Rothman, after having previously co-penned the screenplay for 22 Jump Street. Rothman would also be added as a co-director of the film alongside Bob Perschietti and Peter Ramsey.

At the time, as the film was following six theatrically released live-action films based on Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Lord & Miller and the rest of the team felt that the shift towards focusing on Miles as the protagonist as opposed to Peter Parker would help distinguish it from previous cinematic incarnations, as the character had not yet appeared in a film. Brian Michael Bendis, the co-creator of Miles Morales, served as a consultant on his adaptation to film.

Miles is introduced in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) as an Afro-Latino teenager with considerable intellect, as evidenced by his placement in the prestigious Visions Academy prior to the events of the film. However, he struggles to fit in due to his informal and expressive personality being contrasted with the general conformity present at the institute. During his period of indecisiveness, he finds himself confiding in his uncle Aaron Davis, who encourages him to embrace his individuality in his personal life where he is unable to as a school student, often indulging in Miles' shared pastime as a graffiti artist. His laxed behaviour around his uncle is contrasted with his closed-off and passive relationship with his father, Jefferson Davis, a straight-laced cop for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) who has trouble connecting with him despite his best efforts.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, producers of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), described the character as unique among Spider-Men because of his Brooklyn upbringing, his Puerto Rican and African-American background, and the fact that his family is still alive,^[6] with that family dynamic being central to the film's story.^[7]

In 2018, Brooklyn native Miles Morales is driven to Visions Academy by his father Jefferson Davis, where as a new transfer student, he struggles to fit in with the student body, purposely attempting to miss class and flunk a test much to the ire of his homeroom teacher, who senses potential in him. He is picked by his uncle Aaron Davis and they venture into an underground subway, where he is bitten by a loose genetically engineered spider from the science & research conglomerate Alchemax. The next day at Visions, he realizes that said spider had granted him new abilities not too dissimilar from New York City's celebrated hero, Spider-Man, in addition to encountering and embarrassing a classmate who introduced herself to him as "Wanda". Later that night, Miles returns to the underground subway and bares witness to an encounter between Spider-Man, the Green Goblin and Wilson Fisk, the "Kingpin". Upon being rescued by Spider-Man, Miles is given a thumb drive to help disable Kingpin's "collider", a device he intends on using to extract his deceased wife and child from an alternate reality, reuniting with them. A sudden explosion ruptures the facility, with Miles helplessly watching as Spider-Man is soon crushed under rubble, before being unmasked as 26-year old Peter Parker, and subsequently murdered by Kingpin, who blamed him for the death of his family.

As the city mourns Spider-Man's death, Morales attempts to adjust to his newfound abilities, honoring his legacy and wanting to succeed him as the new Spider-Man. However, he accidentally damages the drive given to him by Peter while testing his powers. Later that night at Parker's gravesite, Morales meets an alternate, dishelved version of Parker from another universe named Peter B. Parker. He additionally discovers his ability to emit bursts of bio-electric energy called "venom blasts". Peter reluctantly agrees to mentor Miles in how to be a Spider-Man in exchange for Miles helping him create a new drive. Accompanying him to the Alchemax headquarters, Miles also learns to camoflauge himself just as they are found by Kingpin's research assistant, Dr. Olivia "Liv" Octavius, deducing that Peter B. Parker will die of cellular decay if he remains in Miles' reality. As they escape reinforcements in the forest, Parker, Morales and Octavius are intercepted by Gwen Stacy, another hero from an alternate dimension assuming the mantle of Spider-Woman. Stacy joins with Parker and Morales as they seek shelter at Aunt May's house, and subsequently meet an entourage of other alternate Spider-People – Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker & Sp//dr, and Peter Porker / Spider-Ham, who are all similarly at risk of death from the same cellular decay afflicting Peter B. Parker and Gwen Stacy.

Miles volunteers to disable Kingpin's collider so the other Spider-People may return home safely, but their testing of Miles has them conclude that he lacks the experience to do so. Distraught, Miles retreats to Aaron's apartment, soon encountering the revelation that Davis himself is the Prowler working under Fisk. Returning to May's house, he is unknowingly followed by Kingpin, Octavius, Prowler, Tombstone and Scorpion just as Peni Parker finishes assembling the new drive intended to disable the collider. Miles outs his identity to Aaron during the ensuing confrontation, with Aaron opting to spare Miles and disregard Fisk's orders, with Kingpin fatally shooting him in response. Aaron encourages Miles to pursue his passions before quietly passing on just as Jefferson Davis arrives at the scene, mistaking the costumed Miles as his killer.

Regrouping at Ganke's apartment, Peter B. Parker reluctantly webs up Miles to ensure his safety and departs for Kingpin's party with the rest of the Spider-Gang, intent on sacrificing himself to deactivate the collider. Jefferson soon approaches Miles' room and attempts to reconcile with him, enabling Miles to muster enough strength to break free of his restraints and master control over his powers. Miles returns to May's residence, with Parker assisting Miles in creating a new Spider-Man suit before he rejoins with the Spider-Gang. Upon arrival at the venue, he effortlessly defeats Kingpin's enforcers uses Peni's new drive to send the alternate Spider-People home, with Peter B. Parker commending his skill. Miles, alone, confronts the Kingpin and attracts Jefferson's attention, who in turn encourages Miles and allows him to subdue Fisk with his venom blast before throwing him directly into the kill switch, destroying the collider permanently.

Fisk is outed as responsible for the murder of that reality's Peter Parker upon being arrested, as Miles is soon welcomed by the city as the new Spider-Man, embracing his newfound responsibilities as he continues attending Visions Academy and eventually reveals his identity to Ganke. A year later, Gwen Stacy reconnects with Miles, having found a way to contact him from her own dimension.

Morales was praised by critics and audiences.^{[citation needed]}

Morales' final costume from Into the Spider-Verse is an unlockable suit in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) developed by Insomniac Games. The game's developers worked in close partnership with Sony Pictures Animation and art director Justin K. Thompson in ensuring the suit's appearance in the game remained visually faithful to the film, including retaining its unique framerate when Morales is in motion, and implementing the pop-up effects for punches and kicks while engaged in combat.^[8]

• Miles Morales (Earth-TRN700) on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki