Yuri Lowenthal, the voice behind Peter Parker in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, has once more commented on the much-debated facial redesign of his character.
The remastered version of Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation 5 in 2020 saw a significant change in the face of its iconic character. Originally, John Bubniak was the face model for Peter Parker in the PS4 edition, but he was replaced by Ben Jordan for the PS5 and PC versions. This new look was also featured in the Spider-Man: Miles Morales spin-off and will continue in the forthcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Insomniac’s choice to modify Peter Parker’s face in subsequent Spider-Man titles was to align the character’s appearance more closely with voice actor Yuri Lowenthal. However, some fans believe the change was an attempt to mirror Tom Holland’s younger Spider-Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, arguing it doesn’t fit the seasoned Spider-Man depicted in the original game. Some enthusiasts have even modded the remastered PC version to bring back John Bubniak’s Peter Parker, while others have embraced and even favored Ben Jordan’s rendition.
The upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has only fanned the flames of this ongoing debate. Yuri Lowenthal, in a recent interview with Comicbook.com, expressed his thoughts on the matter. Regarding the redesign, Lowenthal mentioned it wasn’t a significant concern for him. “The essence of my performance remained unchanged. Once they explained the change was to enhance facial animation, I was completely on board. Whether he looks like a goblin or not, if it elevates my performance, I’m all for it.”
Lowenthal also shared his weariness over the persistent debate about which Peter Parker version is superior. He believes everything that had to be said has been voiced. While acknowledging the deep connection fans have with the character, he expressed hope that they would eventually move past the redesign issue.
The Marvel’s Spider-Man’s portrayal of Peter Parker has undeniably gained immense popularity, even making a cameo in the recent Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. As fans eagerly await the release of Spider-Man 2 in October, Lowenthal believes the discussions around Peter’s redesign have run their course.
The Spider-Man 2 video game is set to launch exclusively on Playstation 5 on October 20, 2023.
