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It doesn’t seem all that long ago that comic book fans returned to AMC theaters across the country for the action-packed and fan-friendly SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME. And while we don’t yet know when or if we’ll see Tom Holland dress up as Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man again, another version of the web-slinger is set to return to the big screen in less than a year.
That’s right, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, the highly anticipated sequel to the stunning and reality-bending 2018 animated film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, will be here before you know it. But before you start digging for your Spider-Man, Spider-Gwen, or even Spider-Ham costume, there are a few things you need to know about the 2023 film. And luckily for you, we have a ton of information on the release date, cast, story, and other things to expect once the movie hits the big screen next summer. Let’s swing back into the action, shall we?
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Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse will be released in June 2023
In December 2018, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE saw audiences fall in love with Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and the rest of the interdimensional web-heads. Since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of the franchise, its characters, and its incredible art style that looks like it’s straight out of the colorful Marvel Comics home pages. There’s good news because we won’t have to wait much longer to pick up with the superheroes again.
The second chapter in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s animated Spider-Man franchise was originally scheduled to hit theaters on April 8, 2022, but the release was pushed back to October 7 due to several issues. However, the release date has been pushed back again and now SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is set to hit the big screen on June 2nd, 2023.
New and returning cast members
That shouldn’t come as a surprise, but most of the voice actors from SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE are returning to reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson will all be back as Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and Peter B. Parker. It’s not yet known if John Mulaney’s Peter Porker, Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir, or Kimiko Glenn’s Peni Parker will return. However, Oscar Isaac’s Miguel O’Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099, will have a prominent role after being introduced in the first film’s post-credits sequence.
In addition to all of the returning heroes, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will also feature a handful of new characters when it hits the big screen. Issa Rae will take on the role of Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, while Jason Schwartzman has joined the cast as a villain named Spot, who has the ability to jump from one universe to another. Shea Whigham joins the cast as NYPD Captain George Stacy.
Miles Morales swings back into the Spider-Verse
As we’ve seen with other Marvel films that have explored the multiverse, actions always have consequences, and SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will explore the implications of the events that took place during its prequel. This was seen in the 15-minute exclusive footage shared by Sony Pictures Animation during CinemaCon 2022, which shows Spider-Man 2099 confronting Spider-Gwen over the mess he’s had to clean up in his universe after she and the other Spider-People had destroyed Kingpins Collider.
To clean up the mess – and battle a new villain free to roam the multiverse – Gwen Miles brings Morales back into the action to face this new threat and save the Spider-Verse from utter destruction.
A new group of directors
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE was directed by the trio Bob Perischetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, all three of whom took home an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. However, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will be helmed by a new group of directors, each with extensive experience in the animation world.
First up is Joaquim Dos Santos, who has worked on shows like Justice League Unlimited, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Voltron: Legendary Defender throughout his career. Kemp Powers made his directorial debut with Oscar-winning SOUL, which he co-directed with Pete Docter. Justin K. Thompson’s work includes CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, Star Wars: Clone Wars and Samurai Jack.
Written by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and David Callaham
Like the first film in the franchise, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE was written by Phil Lord. But instead of Rodney Rothman helping with the script, Lord co-wrote the film with longtime creative partner and Lord Miller Productions co-founder Christopher Miller, as well as David Callaham, who most recently wrote SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS.
In addition to writing SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, Lord and Miller are also producing the upcoming animated superhero film. In addition to Lord Miller Productions, other companies directing the film include Pascal Pictures, Arad Productions and Marvel Entertainment.
A third Spider-Verse film will follow
When Sony Pictures Animation released the first trailer for SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, the title also included (PART ONE) at the end, guaranteeing that a third part of the franchise would appear at some point in the future. At the time, that third film was called SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (PART TWO), but the film has since been retitled SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE. Furthermore, the third installment has already received a release date of March 29, 2024, although we’ll have to wait and see if that date sticks.
But the fun doesn’t stop there, as a female spin-off is in the works that will center on Gwen Stacy, Jessica Drew, and Cindy Moon, as featured in a 2018 Vanity Fair profile on the ever-growing Spider-Verse of Film. Expect to hear more about this project in the near future.
In no time we travel with Miles Morales and Co. through the wild and crazy roller coaster ride of the Spider-Verse.
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE launches June 2, 2023.