When you’re swinging through a digital New York that looks so real you can almost smell the street vendor pretzels, the visuals are only half the battle. Honestly, what makes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PS5 stick the landing isn't just the ray-tracing or the haptic feedback. It’s the voices. It's the way Peter Parker’s voice cracks when he’s under the influence of the symbiote, or how Miles Morales sounds like he’s finally carrying the weight of the city on his own shoulders.
The Spider-Man 2 PS5 cast isn't just a list of names; it’s a group of veterans and newcomers who had to bring life to a story that’s surprisingly heavy for a "superhero game." You’ve got industry legends, a horror icon who unfortunately passed recently, and a few controversial recasts that still have fans debating on Reddit.
The Dual Leads: Yuri Lowenthal and Nadji Jeter
Yuri Lowenthal is basically the definitive Peter Parker for an entire generation of gamers now. You probably know him from roughly a thousand things, but his work here as Peter is some of his most emotional yet. He’s said in interviews that recording for this sequel was a different beast because he and Nadji Jeter (Miles) actually got to record in the same room quite a bit. That’s rare in games. Usually, you’re in a booth by yourself, screaming at a wall.
Nadji Jeter has grown up with Miles. He first voiced the character in the 2017 cartoon and then took over for the Insomniac games. In the sequel, Miles is dealing with college apps and the lingering trauma of what happened to his dad. Nadji brings this subtle, rhythmic quality to Miles that makes him feel distinct from the "classic" Spidey.
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The Venom in the Room: Tony Todd’s Legacy
We have to talk about Tony Todd. The man was a legend. Best known as the original Candyman, Todd brought a terrifying, gravelly depth to Venom that didn't need a voice modulator to sound inhuman. His performance is essentially the backbone of the game’s final act.
Interestingly, Todd mentioned before he passed in late 2024 that a massive amount of his recorded lines—roughly 90%—didn't actually make it into the final cut. That’s wild when you think about it. It makes you wonder if there’s a "Venom Cut" of the game sitting on a server at Insomniac. Even with just 10% of his work, he managed to steal every scene he was in. His death was a massive loss to the industry, and Spider-Man 2 serves as a powerful final chapter for his voice-acting career.
The "New" Harry Osborn and the Casting Controversy
If you played the first game, you might have noticed something was... different about Harry. Originally, Scott Porter (known for Friday Night Lights) voiced Harry in the first game's post-credits scenes and audio logs. But for the full-blown sequel, Insomniac swapped him out for Graham Phillips.
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Why the change? It wasn't drama. It was basically logistics.
Insomniac moved to full performance capture—where the actor's face and body movements are recorded simultaneously with their voice. They needed someone who physically matched the age and look of the character they wanted to build. Graham Phillips, who played Zach Florrick on The Good Wife, stepped in and did a great job, but some fans were bummed to see Porter go. Fun fact: Phillips actually played Ben 10 in a live-action movie years ago, and Yuri Lowenthal voiced Ben 10 in the animated series. Small world.
The Supporting Players Who Keep NYC Grounded
You can't have a Spidey story without the people who make Peter and Miles human.
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- Laura Bailey (Mary Jane Watson): Laura is a powerhouse. Whether she’s Abby in The Last of Us Part II or MJ here, she brings a certain "done with your nonsense" energy that makes this version of MJ feel like a partner, not a damsel.
- Jim Pirri (Kraven the Hunter): This guy was a revelation. He made Kraven feel like a genuine, looming threat rather than a cartoonish villain. He’s got that "old world" gravitas that fits a man hunting the ultimate prey.
- Mark Rolston (Norman Osborn): Rolston is a veteran character actor you’ve seen in Aliens and The Shawshank Redemption. He plays Norman with this simmering, polite menace that is just waiting to explode into a certain green-tinted madness.
- Griffin Puatu (Ganke Lee): Every Spider-Man needs a "guy in the chair," and Puatu makes Ganke feel like the best friend we all wish we had.
Why the Performances Actually Matter
It’s easy to look at a cast list and move on, but in Spider-Man 2, the acting carries the narrative through some pretty dark territory. When Peter starts getting aggressive because of the black suit, Yuri Lowenthal has to balance being a jerk with being someone we still care about. It’s a fine line. If he’s too mean, we hate playing as him. If he’s too soft, the symbiote doesn't feel dangerous.
The chemistry between the cast members is what makes the ending land. You feel the history between Peter, MJ, and Harry. You feel the mentor-student bond between the two Spideys. Without these specific actors, the game would just be a very pretty swinging simulator.
Moving Forward with the Spider-Man Universe
With the game now available on both PS5 and PC (as of 2025), more people are experiencing these performances than ever. If you're looking to dive deeper into the world the cast built, there are a few things you can do next.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the "Making Of" Features: Many of the actors, specifically Yuri and Nadji, have done deep-dive interviews on the performance capture process. It’s fascinating to see them in the "ping pong ball" suits.
- Explore Other Roles: If you loved Tony Todd’s Venom, go back and watch Candyman or listen to his work in Dota 2. It shows just how much range he had.
- Watch for DLC News: While Insomniac has been quiet on story expansions, rumors of a Venom-centric spin-off or a "Beetle" DLC are always floating around. Keep an eye on the official Insomniac "X" (formerly Twitter) or their community forums.
- Replay with a Different Perspective: Now that you know about the performance capture, pay closer attention to the micro-expressions during the cutscenes. The tech is incredible.
The Spider-Man 2 PS5 cast created something that feels less like a game and more like a high-budget cinematic experience. Whether you’re a fan of the comics or just someone who likes hitting buttons, it’s hard not to respect the craft these actors brought to the table.