Why Marvel’s What If Spider-Man Actor Didn’t Copy Tom Holland
Tom Holland didn’t voice Spider-Man in Marvel’s What If…? episode 5, so the true voice actor, Hudson Thames, managed to make the part his own.
Spider-Man actor Hudson Thames explains why he ended up not copying Tom Holland. Marvel’s latest Disney+ series What If…? has been an interesting experiment of sorts for the studio. Each week has explored a new alternate universe within the MCU, thus putting the spotlight on different versions of the characters fans know and love. For example, What If…? episode 7 just imagined a world where Thor was an only child, which caused him to grow up into an immature partier.
As What If…? is an animated series, a good number of MCU actors have returned to voice their characters. The show holds Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa, while those like Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth have all put in vocal appearances. At the same time, there are characters who were not voiced by their live-action counterparts. In the case of What If…? episode 5’s Spider-Man, it was not Tom Holland voicing the web slinger, but actor Hudson Thames. While Thames’ voice felt similar to Holland’s at times, he strove not to directly copy Holland.
Related: Every MCU Easter Egg In What If? Episode 5
The Thames explained the reason for this while talking to He said he initially believed he would be voicing Spider-Man for a few lines, so he did plan to match Holland’s voice. That changed when he learned the full extent of his role; Peter Parker is one of the characters most prominently featured in What If…? episode 5. The Thames said:
At first, I was definitely trying to sound like Tom [Holland], and then I realized it wasn’t going to be a few lines. [I realized] it was going to be me having to find an identity with that character, so I kind of threw that away and did my thing with it. Serendipitously, we sound a bit similar. As I kept going in more and more for more sessions on the episode, I was like, ‘Oh, this is an opportunity to live in this character a little bit’ and have fun with it.
Thames’ What If…? installment picked up with Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner arriving back on Earth like he did in Avengers: Infinity War, only to learn the zombie apocalypse had set in since he’d been gone. Spider-Man was one of the remaining heroes, alongside those like Bucky Barnes and Hope van Dyne. Though Holland is the MCU’s definitive Spider-Man in live-action, Thames did an excellent job capturing the character’s bright-eyed optimism and kind heart. Fans would also probably agree that he managed to put his own spin on the character, just as he hoped to do.
Whether Thames’ Spider-Man will resurface in the final two episodes of What If…? remains to be seen, but there’s also season 2 to consider. The last episodes of this current season promise to feature the Guardians of the Multiverse, most likely assembled to face off with the threat that emerged at the end of this week’s episode 7. After weeks and weeks of surprises, one can assume What If…? still has a few more twists up its sleeves. Audiences better prepare themselves for what’s ahead.
More: Why [SPOILER] Has The Infinity Stones In What If Episode 7’s Ending
What if…?releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.
Source: The Direct
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Originally published at https://screenrant.com on September 23, 2021.
