We’ve so far mostly had still imagery and one short teaser for ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’, the much anticipated sequel to Oscar-winning animated superhero outing ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’, which dazzled us back in 2018.
It’s good, then, to see the first full trailer for the new movie, even if does spend a little time catching us up on Miles Morales’ (Shameik Moore) and his introduction into a life as a Spider-hero.
It’s framed as a warm, emotional extended scene between Miles and his mother Rio (Luna Lauren Velez), with her having her son promise that he’ll look after himself as he grows into a life of heroic deeds and danger. There are flashbacks to Miles’ time with Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld). We also see the likes of Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) and Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage).
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Then, the footage blasts off around the Multiverse, with hints that all might not be as safe with the various Spider-people than Miles originally thought.
The official synopsis promises an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered. And you know that will be just the tip of the Spider-berg, if the first movie was any indication.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s continued involvement signals that this will be another impressive blend of the glitchy, style-shifting animation and a proper emotional arc, though of course they’ve gathered a team of experts to make the movie.
Both ‘Across’ and its own follow-up, ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ are co-directed by Kemp Powers, Joaquim Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson, working from a script by Lord, Miller, and Dave Callaham.
Issa Rae as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' which opens in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Alongside the returning heroes, we’ll see more from Spider-Man 2099 (AKA Miguel O’Hara, voiced by Oscar Isaac, who we met at the very end of ‘Into the Spider-verse’) and meet the likes of Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman), played by Issa Rae.
Villain-wise, the team will be battling The Spot, a new baddie (though long established in Marvel comics), voiced here by Jason Schwartzman.
“The Spot is an interesting villain because he seems like a joke, but when you really look at his powers, there’s incredible potential,” Powers tells GamesRadar. “His ability to open portals across dimensions sets him up perfectly for the Spider-Verse. He’s the villain of the next two films… and let’s just say that the Spot and Miles are connected in surprising ways”
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) takes on The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation's 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.'
The voice cast also includes Brian Tyree Henry, Rachel Dratch, Jorma Taccone, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee and Daniel Kaluuya, with the latter playing Spider-Punk, AKA Hobart “Hobie” Brown, a more recent Marvel Comics arrival.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd next year, with follow-up sequel ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ arriving on March 29th, 2024.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
