Disney star admits he feared role would be ‘annoying and woke’ as he makes feelings clear on new Spider-Man series
Hudson Thames, the voice actor for Marvel’s new animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, has sparked controversy after revealing he initially feared the Disney+ show would be “annoying and woke”.
The actor made the comments just days before the series premiere on Disney’s streaming platform.
Thames, who voices the titular web-slinger in the new Marvel timeline, expressed his early concerns about the show’s potential direction, though he later praised the series after reading the script.
The remarks come amid ongoing debates about diversity and inclusion in Disney’s content, with the entertainment giant facing scrutiny over its approach to representation in recent years.
In the interview with Collider, Thames shared his thoughts on the series: “I thought it was awesome. I mean, my biggest fear was that it was gonna be annoying and woke, and it wasn’t.”
The actor expressed his satisfaction with the show’s writing quality, stating: “Yes, this is great, it’s so well written, like it feels real.”
Thames drew from his personal experience to validate the show’s authenticity, noting his position as the eldest of five boys helped him relate to the content.
“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,” he added.
Disney has faced significant pushback in recent years over its approach to diverse and inclusive content, often labelled as “woke” by critics.
The entertainment giant has drawn particular criticism from conservative circles, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.
Former activist investor Nelson Peltz has also voiced concerns about Disney’s content direction.
The company’s latest Star Wars series, The Acolyte, came under fire for supposedly woke and “anti-men” plot lines following its premiere last year. It’s since been cancelled by Disney.
Meanwhile, Rachel Zegler, the star penned to lead a reboot of story time classic Snow White, divided film fans when she publicly trashed the 1937 classic, ridiculing the role of a “Prince Charming” character.
These debates have intensified scrutiny of Disney’s content choices, with Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man arriving amid ongoing discussions about representation in mainstream entertainment.
The new animated series premiered on Disney+ on January 29, featuring a star-studded voice cast alongside Thames.
Award-winning actor Colman Domingo voices Norman Osborn in the series, with Kari Wahlgren taking on the role of May Parker.
The show also brings together both stars from Daredevil: Born Again, with Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox joining the cast.
Hugh Dancy rounds out the ensemble of voice talent for the animated production.
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The series introduces a brand-new Marvel timeline that runs parallel to the MCU’s Earth-616, featuring Peter Parker’s encounters with various heroes and villains.
Jeff Trammell serves as head writer, with Mel Zwyer directing. Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt and Trammell are executive producers.