Between the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase gameplay and the SDCC story trailer, a better idea is forming of what Peter and Miles will be facing in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The highly anticipated third entry in Insomniac's superhero series will see the return of many of the first two titles' actors, alongside new cast members portraying fan-favorite villains such as Kraven and Venom.The first two Marvel's Spider-Man titles have been praised for their storytelling and performances, with stories that balance superhero antics with the personal lives of both Spider-Men. This looks set to continue with Peter's childhood friend, Harry Osborn, returning after years away and wanting to use the experimental treatment for his terminal illness to "heal the world," something that will inevitably unleash the Venom symbiote on the city.
11 Yuri Lowenthal Returns As Peter Parker
Players are quickly re-introduced to Peter Parker, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. Lowenthal has been praised for his performance in the previous Spider-Man titles, portraying a more experienced Peter Parker as a recent college graduate in his twenties. Many have deemed Lowenthal to be one of the best portrayals of the character, and Marvel's Spider-Man showed him delivering some extremely emotional scenes, particularly in its closing moments.
In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Peter wears the Venom symbiote. As a result, Lowenthal delivers a deeper, sharper, and more aggressive tone in his delivery as a symbiote-corrupted Peter, one more like the Symbiote Spider-Man of the 90s animated series than players are used to from his portrayal as he brutally defeats his foes,
10 Nadji Jeter Returns As Miles Morales
After appearing in a supporting role in Marvel's Spider-Man, and getting his own title Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Nadji Jeter will be returning as the younger Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Miles was mentored by Peter before coming into his own as a superhero in his own title and now seems to work as more of a team with Peter, with the two Spider-Men acting more like equals.
With Miles concerned about the symbiote-corrupted Peter's new attitude at the end of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's gameplay footage, it's likely that he may have to take a stand against his mentor, which could see a boss battle against Peter later in the game to save him from the symbiote before it inhabits someone else and becomes Venom. This won't be the only struggle he will have to overcome in the upcoming game, as he will also have to confront the man responsible for his father's death, Mr. Negative, which Jeter stated would be an incredibly emotional scene for the actor.
9 Jim Pirri Voices Kraven The Hunter
Red Dead Redemption 2 actor Jim Pirri will be voicing the classic Spider-Man foe, Kraven the Hunter. It was widely believed that Kraven was the ominous voiceover for Marvel's Spider-Man 2's reveal trailer, and the new gameplay footage confirmed that he will be playing a significantly large role in the upcoming title.
Kraven travels to New York to take on its various superpowered and highly skilled heroes, with a tablet showing the likes of both Spider-Men, Black Cat, Prowler, Tombstone, Wraith, and Lizard as potential targets, with his team ultimately hunting the latter throughout the gameplay trailer.
8 Graham Phillips Is Harry Osborn
Graham Phillips will be taking over the role of Harry Osborn from God of War Ragnarök actor Scott Porter. After returning from his experimental treatment with the Venom symbiote, Harry seems to be on a mission to "heal the world" after feeling he has been given a "second chance."
A conversation between Harry and his father in Marvel's Spider-Man 2's story trailer and Peter's dialogue from the gameplay footage revealed that the treatment may not have been completely successful, and Harry may still be sick. This could be what leads to Harry bonding once more with the symbiote after Peter's time with it, creating Venom.
7 Tony Todd Voices Venom
After much secrecy from Insomniac and fan speculation, it was revealed in the SDCC footage that Venom's alter ego will be Harry Osborn. Despite this, it's been confirmed that Candyman actor and horror legend Tony Todd will voice Venom in his superpowered form in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Venom has appeared in full toward the end of the story trailer, destroying one of Kraven's aerial vehicles and crash-landing in Times Square, demonstrating some of his destructive power. Todd has been vocal about how much he enjoys playing the character in several interviews and claims that Venom will be just as destructive as the Rhino chase that opened Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, stating that the villain "doesn't give a damn" who he hurts.
6 Stephen Oyoung Returns As Martin Li/Mr. Negative
One of Marvel's Spider-Man's major villains, Martin Li, will be returning in the upcoming sequel. After the SDCC trailer revealed this, and Nadji Jeter confirmed that there would be an emotionally charged scene between the now-superpowered Miles and his father's killer, Stephen Oyoung took to Twitter to confirm that he will be reprising the role.
In the brief moment in the SDCC trailer that Li was shown he appeared to be in an orange jumpsuit with long hair and a beard - a departure from his more formal look in the first game. This indicates that his return could come during some kind of attack on the RAFT, as there appeared to be debris, fire, and embers behind Miles, suggesting that Kraven may take his hunt directly to the super-max prison and that Li may be one of many foes to return.
5 Tara Platt's Yuri Watanabe Has Become Wraith
Former police captain Yuri Watanabe's vigilante alter-ego, Wraith, will appear in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and will be voiced once again by Tara Platt. Yuri was a great ally to Peter in the first game, but spiraled after several of her squad members, and an undercover officer died under her watch, taking the law into her own hands as the violent vigilante, Wraith, who could be seen emerging from a burning building in Marvel's Spider-Man 2's story trailer.
It's been rumored that Peter and Miles will spend part of the game tracking down a vigilante serial killer that will likely be Wraith. If so, this will likely lead to an emotional boss battle as Peter confronts his former ally and potentially reason with her to end her murderous crusade.
4 Griffin Puatu Returns As Ganke Lee
Miles Morales' best friend and confidant, Ganke Lee played a major part in Miles' development throughout Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Ganke helped the hero with his new, unique suit, and developed the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app to provide Miles with a direct means of communication with the citizens he is trying to protect.
As such, it's great to see him returning in the new Marvel's Spider-Man 2 footage, helping Miles from afar using a vulture-like drone during his pursuit of The Lizard. Griffin Puatu voiced Ganke in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and it sounds like he is returning to the role here.
3 Laura Bailey Returns As Mary Jane Watson
If the prequel comic is anything to go by, the Daily Bugle's Associate Editor, Mary Jane Watson will be playing a key part in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Laura Bailey will be returning to voice her. Peter is starting to treat Mary Jane as a partner rather than being overly protective and both he and MJ are better at communicating in their relationship than they were at the start of Marvel's Spider-Man, although this could change with Peter falling under the influence of the Venom symbiote, as she seemed to be hiding in fear and told Miles that he "wasn't himself" in the SDCC footage.
Mary Jane was playable in several of Marvel's Spider-Man's missions, investigating areas for her job and helping Spider-Man in his pursuit of criminals. With Peter already giving her Kraven's name to investigate in the story trailer, it's possible that she may have a similar role in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
2 Darin De Paul Will Return As J. Jonah Jameson
Mary Jane will also likely share more screentime with the Daily Bugle's former Editor In Chief, J. Jonah Jameson, who was voiced by Overwatch's Darin De Paul in the previous two games. The two had a public argument when MJ was a guest on Jameson's Just The Facts podcast to promote her book which led him to return to the Daily Bugle in the prequel comic, and "clean house" in the upcoming game.
While this does mean that players might not be treated to his podcast while roaming the city throughout the game, it should create some fun scenes for fans when Jameson and MJ clash in person.
1 Mark Rolston Will Return As Norman Osborn
Norman Osborn will likely play a major part in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, with his experiments to save his son Harry being the main reason the Venom symbiote is unleashed. Norman was largely disgraced as a public figure by the end of Marvel's Spider-Man as Otto Octavius and Martin Lee exposed him for his unethical experiments that led to the creation of the latter's super-powered alter ego Mr. Negative.
Therefore, to avoid another PR disaster tying back to his company, Osborn will likely want the Venom situation dealt with as soon as possible. Comic fans will also know that Norman is destined to become the Green Goblin at some point, and with the first Marvel's Spider-Man sneaking in several Easter eggs hinting at his alter ego, many are wondering what events could transpire in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 that could lead him down that path.
Sources: PlayStation/YouTube (1, 2), Stephen Oyoung/Twitter