‘Agatha All Along’ star reveals how he got into Marvel

Time has a funny way of reminding us that we’re not as young as we used to be. Watching your child grow up, realizing your favorite childhood movie hit the big two-oh, or having a good laugh while an actor who seems like he just graduated elementary school casually mentions that he was five when Iron Man premiered—yeah, those moments can really sting.

Joe Locke, who plays Billy (or Teen) in Agatha All Along, recently shared his superhero origin story, and it’s both heartwarming and a little jarring. He revealed that he was just five years old when Iron Man came out in 2008. Cue the collective gasp from older Marvel fans! Kathryn Hahn, his co-star, looked genuinely shocked, and when Locke jokingly pointed out, “You’re all so old!” you could practically hear the sound of hearts breaking across the internet.

Locke went on to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was “an integral part of my childhood,” which makes you feel all the feelings—nostalgia, envy, and maybe a touch of existential dread. The reality check is compounded by the fact that while Locke is now a 21-year-old superstar, Hahn was 35 when Iron Man debuted. Time flies, doesn’t it? Just think, 2010 was 14 years ago, not some distant past.

Locke’s ability to mix humor and insight in interviews has made him a fan favorite. In a recent chat with Variety, he aptly noted the difference between the Heartstopper fandom, which adores him for his role as Charlie, and the often-critically opinionated Marvel fandom. He cheekily remarked, “Marvel fans are very open with their opinions,” before blowing a raspberry and adding, “I’m doing the one thing that they really wish they could be doing. Sorry!” Ouch, but he’s not wrong!

Imagine being a kid, excitedly watching Iron Man, and then, years later, stepping into a role that redefines the entire MCU. It’s a dream come true for any fan, but Locke’s experience also serves as a reminder of how fast time can pass. Before landing the role of Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, he was mostly just cutting his teeth in theater, but now he’s making waves in a major franchise.

During filming for Agatha All Along, Locke had a classic coming-of-age moment. He mentioned to Rolling Stone UK that he “matured a lot” while working on the series, realizing, “This is adult sh*t. I’m going into this on the same plane as everyone else.” How refreshing it is to hear someone so grounded in the whirlwind of Hollywood!

While we’re all thrilled to see Locke shine in the MCU, let’s just hope he keeps the reminders of our aging process to a minimum. Honestly, I’m still trying to catch up with the latest TikTok slang, and I could do without more reminders that I’m not a kid anymore!