With the release of the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man trailer it’s revealed that Marvel has introduced new Black versions of Norman Osborn and Harry Osborn.
Spider-Man: Freshman Year becomes Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
The series was meant at one time to be the origin story for the MCU’s Spider-Man originally titled Spider-Man: Freshman Year set before the events of Captain America: Civil War, but has since been changed where the show takes place in an alternate timeline where Norman Osborn becomes the mentor of Peter Parker, not Tony Stark.
Not set in the MCU
The details for the series were first revealed back in 2022 with art and images released. However, as fans pointed out at the time, the details didn’t sync up with the MCU. Spider-Man: No Way Home established various characters didn’t exist in the MCU, yet are present in the animated series. Well, it’s because Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is not set in the MCU (anymore).
Black Harry Osborn
The images released for Spider-Man: Freshman Year at the time also led to fans questioning if the characters were indeed Black versions of Norman and Harry Osborn, which the trailer and IMDb now make clear.
Not from the X-Men ’97 showrunner
The trailer also says Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is from the same studio that brought you X-Men ’97. While true, it’s from Marvel Studios, it’s not from former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo (who recently blasted Marvel’s What…If? Season 3).
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man created by LGBTQ Craig of the Greek writer
Jeff Trammell is the head writer who hasn’t previously worked with Marvel, according to IMDb. Trammell is known for Craig of the Greek, which according to Wiki “features themes of friendship, diversity, and LGBTQ representation that have attracted a broad fanbase.”
Voice cast
Marvel.com has also confirmed the voice cast. Voicing Norman Osborn is Colman Domingo who is known for lots of roles including Lincoln, Selma, Fear The Walking Dead, and Passing Strange.
Voicing Harry Osborn (yes, Harry is a male though it is presently unknown if he identifies as one) is Zeno Robinson who is known for voicing characters in Marvel’s What…? If?, The Milk Chug, Bleach, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Transformers: Earthspark, Batman: Arkham Shadow, and more.
New look at Harry Osborn in ‘YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN’
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) December 30, 2024
Voiced by the talented Zeno Robinson. pic.twitter.com/Iauyy4jlRS
The additional cast includes Hugh Dancy as Doc Ock, Kari Wahlgren as Aunt May, Paul F. Tompkins as Bentley Witman, Eugene Byrd as Lonnie Lincoln, Grace Song as Nico Minoru.
30-year-old Hudson Thames provides the voice for teen highschooler Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
Not the MCU’s Daredevil & Kingpin
Charlie Cox is also supposed to voice Daredevil, with Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, but again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man takes place in an alternate timeline so that won’t be the MCU’s Man Without Fear or Kingpin.
“Celebrates the character’s early comic book roots”
The trailer also changes the cover of the origin of Spider-Man from the original comics created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Stan Lee would have celebrated his 102nd birthday yesterday.
Release and story
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man drops on January 29, 2025 on Disney+. The animated series consists of ten episodes and is officially described as following Peter Parker on his way to becoming a hero, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots.
