Voice actor Hudson Thames’ comments on the new Spider-Man animated series leave us with plenty to think about. It seems he’s at odds with the animation’s PR and marketing team.
Thames, who previously voiced Peter Parker in What If...?, returns to the role in Disney+’s new animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
In an exclusive interview with Collider, the voice actor expressed his concerns about certain aspects of the animation.
“I thought it was awesome. I mean, my biggest fear was that it was gonna be annoying and woke, and it wasn't, and I was like, ‘Yes, this is great, it's so well written,’ like it feels real. I'm the oldest of five boys, so I feel like I kind of know what's happening in their lives and in high school, and it felt like it was doing that justice.”
Interestingly, Thames' statements are ironic, as some online audiences have already criticized Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man for being ‘woke’ due to the casting of Black actors for Norman and Harry Osborn. Colman Domingo, in particular, has faced racist backlash for his role.
The term “woke” in Hollywood is often used in a negative or sarcastic way, suggesting that it’s overly focused on political correctness.
Accusations of “wokeness” have been directed at projects like The Acolyte, The Marvels, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and The Little Mermaid remake, with critics claiming they focus too much on diversity or social messages.
