Marvel’s ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ Ties Into the MCU—But Stands on Its Own

Disney+ has officially launched Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, a fresh animated take on Peter Parker’s early days as the web-slinger.

Created by Jeff Trammell, the series balances a unique storytelling approach with connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)—but don’t expect Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to swing into this version of events.

A New (Yet Familiar) Origin Story

Set in an alternate timeline, the show takes place around the events of Captain America: Civil War, keeping major MCU events like the Battle of New York and the Sokovia Accords in play. However, it deviates from previous Spider-Man adaptations by making key changes to Peter’s world.

Rather than being mentored by Tony Stark, Peter finds guidance from Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo)—a twist that raises plenty of intriguing possibilities. Instead of the usual love interests like Mary Jane Watson or Gwen Stacy, Peter’s romantic lead is Pearl Pangan (Cathy Ang), known in the comics as the hero Wave.

His best friend isn’t Ned Leeds, but rather Nico Minoru (Grace Song), a character from Marvel’s Runaways series. And rather than dealing with Flash Thompson, Peter faces off against Lonnie Lincoln (Eugene Byrd), who eventually becomes the villain Tombstone.

A Classic Comic Book Aesthetic

Visually, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man draws inspiration from early Spider-Man comics, delivering a bold, nostalgic animation style.

Trammell and his team were intentional about making Peter Parker’s world feel fresh while still honoring his comic book roots.

“I really wanted to focus on Peter Parker,” Trammell explains. “I love Spider-Man—but you don’t have the hero without the life experiences that shape Peter.”

This deep dive into Peter’s moral dilemmas and personal struggles brings a refreshing, character-driven perspective to the series.

Hudson Thames Takes Over as Spider-Man

The show’s version of Peter Parker is voiced by Hudson Thames, who previously played the character in Marvel’s What If…? series. Originally cast as a sound-alike for Tom Holland, Thames now gets to make the character his own.

“I was very much thinking about ‘How do I honor what Tom has done?’” Thames says. “But for this show, this was Hudson playing Spider-Man now.”

Trammell echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that they didn’t want Thames to simply mimic Holland’s portrayal. Instead, they worked together to shape a new interpretation of Peter Parker that feels distinct yet familiar.

Will It Connect to the MCU?

While Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man references MCU events, it exists in its own separate timeline—meaning it won’t directly impact the live-action films. Still, fans can expect subtle nods and Easter eggs that link it to the broader Marvel universe.

For those looking for a fresh yet faithful take on Spider-Man’s story, this new Disney+ series delivers an exciting new perspective.

Whether it ties into future MCU projects remains to be seen, but for now, it offers a compelling origin story with a unique spin on Peter Parker’s world.