I'm Convinced 1 Actor Needs To Join The Main MCU Timeline After Their 2025 Marvel Debut
An Oscar-nominated actor just made his Marvel debut, and the studio needs to add them to the main MCU timeline, whether it's their current role or another. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a new animated series that recently premiered on Disney+. While it does focus on a younger Peter Parker, it doesn't star Tom Holland as the series is set in a different universe. In the series, Peter starts his first year of high school, trying to balance his academic and social life while being Spider-Man and while working on an internship at Oscorp.
The series does feature many unique adaptations of popular Spider-Man characters, but it also features some familiar faces, like Charlie Cox's Daredevil. The talented voice cast includes many newcomers, such as Hudson Thames as Peter, Grace Song as Nico Minoru, and Kari Wahlgren as Aunt May. Many audiences may recognize Norman Osborn's voice as portrayed by Colman Domingo. Domingo makes his Marvel debut in this series, and I'm convinced that Marvel needs to make him a part of the official MCU timeline.
Colman Domingo Makes His Marvel Debut As Norman Osborn In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Norman Has Academy Award-Worthy Talent Behind His Voice
In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Norman Osborn is the wealthy businessman who runs Oscorp. He acts as a substitute for the MCU's Tony Stark, offering Peter an internship at his company. While Norman initially seems friendly, audiences know that he eventually becomes Green Goblin, as illustrated by Willem Dafoe in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Domingo voices this version of Norman, providing the confident, charming persona that Norman utilizes.
Domingo hasn't starred in many blockbuster films, but he does have a blossoming career featuring a few Academy Award-nominated performances. He had his breakthrough in Fear the Walking Dead and gained notoriety for his performance as Ali in Euphoria, winning an Emmy in 2022. In 2024, Domingo received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin. In 2025, he is nominated for the same award for his role as Divine G in Sing Sing. Other notable films he has starred in include Lincoln, The Butler, and The Color Purple.
Domingo Would Be An Excellent Live-Action Addition To The MCU
The MCU Should Add More Award-Winning Talent To Its Roster
Domingo has proved he's an excellent actor and there are many roles he'd be perfect for in the MCU. Before Marvel's pivot from Kang the Conqueror to Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom, Domingo was a popular fan casting to replace Jonathan Majors as Kang. Marvel is considering actors for its upcoming X-Men projects, and Domingo could be perfect for several parts, including Charles Xavier. However, he could take a more villainous route in the X-Men universe, portraying Magneto or Mr. Sinister. However, Marvel could take the more obvious route and cast Domingo as its live-action Norman Osborn.
The actor previously demonstrated his ability to play Norman and the Green Goblin in 2020's Zola. Based on a viral Twitter thread, Zola stars Taylour Paige as an exotic dancer who goes on a wild road trip with a woman she just met. Domingo plays a mysterious pimp, who frequently goes back and forth between a false personality as a charming businessman and his real personality as a threatening human trafficker. Domingo does a phenomenal job transitioning between these two personalities, and I'm convinced he can similarly portray Norman with the same disturbing mannerisms.
Could Norman Osborn Still Be In The MCU?
Oscorp Doesn't Currently Exist In The MCU
Norman Osborn hasn't yet been introduced to the MCU. While Dafoe's Osborn returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it was the same version from the Raimi universe. Aunt May and Peter Parker don't recognize anyone with that name, meaning Norman either doesn't exist or isn't a well-known businessman. There isn't any mention of Oscorp in the MCU and Peter has never met Harry.
However, there is a chance that Norman does exist in the MCU. He could be a blooming entrepreneur who launched Oscorp as a promising start-up on its way to becoming a global operation. He could be introduced if Peter meets Harry once he goes to college, making it an awkward encounter for Peter after fighting Dafoe's version. He could be desperate to make a breakthrough, leading to his transformation into the Green Goblin. If Marvel does have plans for Norman Osborn, the studio should consider Domingo for his live-action debut after his impressive voice role in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
- Release Date
- January 29, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Writers
- Charlie Neuner
- Franchise(s)
- Spider-Man
Cast
Hudson ThamesPeter Parker / Spider-Man (voice)
May Parker (voice)
- Creator(s)
- Jeff Trammell
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