Emmy-winning actor and MADDRAMA alumnus brings HBCU talent to the Marvel franchise
By Kelli Sharpe
(JACKSON, Miss.) — Jackson State University (JSU) is pleased to announce that alumnus Tramell Tillman has been cast in the upcoming film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Tillman’s character is a new addition to the Marvel franchise in the latest installment of the Spider-Man film series.
Tillman will appear in the highly anticipated blockbuster, which opens in theaters on July 31, 2026. Watch the official movie trailer here. The role follows his recent Primetime Emmy Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ television series Severance, marking a major milestone in his career.
“Tramell Tillman reflects the excellence we cultivate at Jackson State,” said JSU Interim President Denise Jones Gregory. “We are incredibly proud to see one of our own step into a role of this scale, continuing to bring his work to a global audience. From his time with MADDRAMA to this moment on the big screen, his journey demonstrates what is possible when talent is paired with the training he received here and the opportunity to grow as an artist. ”
A 2008 graduate of Jackson State University, Tillman graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science and was a member of the university’s MADDRAMA Performance Troupe, which provides hands-on training in student performance and production.
“Tramell’s time with MADDRAMA showcased his talent, discipline and commitment to ensemble storytelling,” said Mark Henderson, Ph.D., founding director of MADDRAMA and chair of the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre. “His achievements inspire current students and validate our program’s ability to prepare artists for the highest levels of performance.”
Tillman’s role in the Marvel franchise and his Emmy win have inspired students like Callie Calicut to keep pursuing her goal of becoming a full-time actress in the television and film industry. Calicut will attend the New York Film Academy Los Angeles campus next fall after graduating in May 2026 with a bachelor’s in multimedia journalism.
“This motivates me because it reminds me that I’m exactly where I need to be and in proximity to the people who I need to be in proximity to. It also showed me that you can pursue your dreams regardless of your major or what you study,” said Calicut, who was awarded Best Supporting Actress from the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre.
An honor student at JSU, Tillman was also involved in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Student Government Association and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Tillman’s extensive career in stage and screen includes the film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and television series Godfather of Harlem alongside Forrest Whitaker and the Amazon drama Hunters starring Al Pacino. In the Fall of 2019, he made his Broadway debut at the Lincoln Center in the play The Great Society.
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