Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Theatrical release poster

***Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse*** is a 2023 American computer-animated superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Miles Morales / Spider-Man, produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation in association with Marvel Entertainment, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The sequel to *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018), it is set in a shared multiverse of alternate universes called the Spider-Verse. The film is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson (in Dos Santos and Thompson's feature directorial debuts), from a screenplay written by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller (who both also produce) and David Callaham. Shameik Moore voices Miles, starring alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, and Oscar Isaac. In the film, Miles goes on an adventure with Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman across the multiverse where he meets a team of Spider-People known as the Spider-Society, led by Miguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099, but comes into conflict with them over handling a new threat.

Sony began developing a sequel to *Into the Spider-Verse* before its 2018 release, with the writing and directing team attached. It was set to focus on the relationship between Moore's Miles and Steinfeld's Gwen. The sequel was officially announced in November 2019 and animation work began in June 2020, with a different visual style for each of the six universes visited by the characters. With a runtime of 140 minutes, it makes it the longest animated film ever produced by an American studio.

*Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* premiered at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 2, having been delayed from an original April 2022 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like its predecessor, the film received critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing $611 million against a production budget of $100 million at the worldwide box office, surpassing its predecessor and becoming Sony Pictures Animation's highest-grossing film and the fifth highest grossing film of 2023. The third and final film in the trilogy, *Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse*, is scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024, while a female-focused spin-off film, *Spider-Woman*, is in development.

## Plot

On Earth-65, Gwen Stacy lives with her police captain father, George, who doesn't know that she is Spider-Woman. Years prior, Gwen accidentally killed her best friend Peter Parker while he was mindlessly rampaging as the Lizard, and the police have been hunting her ever since. One night, Gwen encounters a version of the Vulture from an Italian Renaissance-themed alternate universe. Spider-People Miguel O'Hara and Jess Drew arrive using portal-generating watches and help Gwen subdue the Vulture. Gwen is confronted by George and reveals her identity. Distraught, he attempts to arrest her. Miguel begrudgingly grants Gwen membership in the Spider-Society, and she escapes through a portal with him and Jess.

In Brooklyn on Earth-1610, sixteen months after the destruction of the Alchemax collider, Miles Morales is adapting to being Spider-Man while missing Gwen and struggling to live up to his parents' expectations. He encounters the Spot, an Alchemax scientist whose body was infused with portals after the collider explosion. The Spot blames Miles for his dilemma and reveals that, while testing the collider before its destruction, he transported the spider that bit Miles from another universe, Earth-42. He then accidentally transports himself into a void, where he learns to travel to other universes containing the Alchemax collider to use them to empower himself further.

Gwen travels to Earth-1610 and reconnects with Miles while secretly tracking the Spot across dimensions. Miles invisibly watches Gwen trace the Spot to Mumbattan on Earth-50101 before Jess calls and instructs Gwen to leave Miles behind. Miles follows Gwen after she opens a portal to Earth-50101, and they team up with Spider-Men Pavitr Prabhakar and Hobie Brown against the Spot, who successfully absorbs the power of that world's collider. Before the Spot escapes, he and Miles share a vision of Miles' father, Jeff, dying at the Spot's hands. As the collider collapses, Miles saves Pavitr's girlfriend's father, a police captain, but Mumbattan begins falling apart from the disruption of a "canon event". Members of the Spider-Society arrive to assess the damage of the dimensional anomaly, while Miles, Gwen, and Hobie are sent to the Society's headquarters at Nueva York on Earth-928, where hundreds of Spider-People reside in a massive complex.

The three meet with Miguel and are joined by Peter B. Parker and his infant daughter Mayday. Miguel explains to Miles that all of the Spider-People are connected in a "Spider-Verse", that each of their stories contain "canon events", such as the death of a police captain close to Spider-Man, and that straying from those events threatens reality. Miguel admits that he tried to replace a deceased version of himself from another universe who had a happy family, only for that universe to collapse. Miles realizes that the Spot murdering Jeff, who will be promoted to police captain in two days, is a canon event. Miguel imprisons Miles so he won't try to save Jeff, but Hobie helps Miles break loose before using a portal to quit the Society. Miguel orders all Spider-People to apprehend Miles, resulting in a frenzied chase through the complex and city. Miguel eventually corners Miles and tells him that he was never supposed to become Spider-Man, and that Earth-42 consequently has no Spider-Man. Miles flees and, with the help of Margo Kess/Spider-Byte, returns to what he believes is his home dimension. Miguel, seeing Gwen as a liability, ejects her from the Society and sends her home. Gwen reconciles with George, who decides to resign as police captain. He gives her a watch Hobie had left for her, and Gwen decides to use it to aid Miles.

Miles returns to his apartment and reveals to his mother that he is Spider-Man, whom she does not recognize. After glitching, Miles realizes that he is on Earth-42, a world where his deceased uncle Aaron Davis is alive while Jeff is dead. Miguel, Jess, and Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider travel to Earth-1610 in search of Miles. Gwen arrives through her own portal, which she sends Ben through. She then speaks with Miles' parents and promises to bring him home, while Jess spies on their conversation. Aaron interrogates Miles alongside Earth-42's Miles, who has become the Prowler. As the Spot returns to Earth-1610 and begins his attack, Gwen assembles a team to find Miles, consisting of Peter B., Mayday, Pavitr, Hobie, Margo, Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker, and Spider-Ham.

## Voice cast

*Further information: List of Spider-Man films cast members*

* Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man: An intelligent and rebellious teenage graffiti artist of African-American and Puerto-Rican descent who took over as the Spider-Man of Earth-1610 after the death of his reality's Peter Parker, publicly known as "Spider-Man #2".
* Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman: A version of Gwen Stacy who is the drummer of a rock band and the Spider-Woman of Earth-65, where she is a wanted fugitive since accidentally killing her reality's Peter Parker.
* Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson "Jeff" Davis: Miles' African-American father and a police officer who originally disapproved of Spider-Man's vigilante actions but now sees Spider-Man as a hero.
* Luna Lauren Vélez as Rio Morales: Miles' Puerto-Rican mother, a nurse. Vélez also plays an alternate version of Rio from Earth-42.
* Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man: An older, disheveled, and brunette Earth-616 counterpart to the blond-haired blue-eyed Peter Parker native to Miles' dimension, who was a reluctant mentor to Miles. Parker now has a daughter named Mayday with Mary Jane Watson.
* Jason Schwartzman as Dr. Johnathan Ohnn / The Spot:
A former scientist from Alchemax-turned-supervillain after an accident, whose body is now covered by interdimensional portals that allow him to travel through space and different universes. In the film, Johnathan turned to a life of crime because he was ostracized due to his appearance and has no idea how to use his powers and/or be a proper villain. The Spot wasn't originally the film's main villain, but was suggested by producer Avi Arad. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller at first dismissed the idea, but after talking more about his powers, they made him the antagonist.
* Issa Rae as Jess Drew / Spider-Woman: A pregnant African-American Spider-Woman from Earth-404 who is O'Hara's right-hand and rides a motorcycle. Unlike most Spider-People, Drew does not maintain a secret identity.
* Karan Soni as Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India: An Indian version of Spider-Man from an alternate universe, living in Mumbattan (a portmanteau of Mumbai and Manhattan) who obtained his powers through magic instead of a spider bite.
* Daniel Kaluuya as Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk: A Black British, punk rock version of Spider-Man from an alternate universe that is ruled by a totalitarian regime and who uses his guitar as his main weapon.
* Oscar Isaac as Miguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099:
A muscular "ninja vampire" Spider-Man of Irish and Mexican descent from an alternate universe set in the year 2099, who is the leader of the Spider-Society, a group of Spider-People from alternate universes tasked with protecting the Multiverse. Isaac described Miguel as "the one Spider-Man that doesn't have a sense of humor", while the production team nicknamed him "Property Damage Spider-Man" due to the amount of destruction that he leaves in his wake.

Greta Lee reprises her role from *Into the Spider-Verse* as Lyla, Miguel and the Spider Society's AI assistant. Mahershala Ali voices the Earth-42 version of Aaron Davis, a variant of Miles' deceased uncle who never became Prowler; Ali previously voiced the Earth-1610 version of Aaron in *Into the Spider-Verse*. Shea Whigham voices George Stacy, Gwen's father and a police captain hunting Spider-Woman on Earth-65. Jorma Taccone voices Adriano Toomes / Vulture, an Italian vulture-themed supervillain from a Renaissance-inspired universe, as well as Peter Parker / Spider-Man from the 1967 animated series, which is identified as Earth-67, the latter of which he reprises from *Into the Spider-Verse*. Jharrel Jerome voices Miles G. Morales / The Prowler, Miles' Earth-42 variant who has turned to a life of crime with his uncle Aaron.

Additional iterations of Spider-Man appearing in the film as members of the Spider-Society, with speaking roles, include: Andy Samberg as Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider, a genetic clone of Peter Parker from an alternate universe; Amandla Stenberg as Margo Kess / Spider-Byte, a Spider-Woman from a virtual reality; Kimiko Glenn as Peni Parker / SP//dr; Nicolas Cage as Peter Parker / Spider-Man Noir (through archival audio recordings); John Mulaney as Peter Porker / Spider-Ham (through archival audio recordings); Taran Killam as Patrick O'Hara / Web-Slinger and his horse Widow; Nic Novicki as Lego Spider-Man, Josh Keaton as Peter Parker / Spectacular Spider-Man from the television series *The Spectacular Spider-Man* (2008–2009), also appearing through archival footage of the show's season one episode, "Intervention"; Yuri Lowenthal as Peter Parker / Insomniac Spider-Man from the *Marvel's Spider-Man* video game series by Insomniac Games, also appearing through footage of the game *Marvel's Spider-Man 2* (2023); Mike Rianda as Ezekiel Sims / Spider-Therapist (though he was only credited as "Additional voices"); Sofia Barclay as Malala Windsor / Spider-UK, an original incarnation from the comic book versions; Danielle Perez as Charlotte Webber / Sun-Spider; Metro Boomin as Metro-Spider, a fictionalized "unique" version of himself as Spider-Man; Elizabeth Perkins as "Quippy Spider-Person" (while also briefly voicing the Aunt May of Miles' Earth-65); Max Borne / Spider-Man 2211, Typeface, and Riella O'Hara, the daughter of an alternate Miguel whom he raised until her death, also appear in the film.

The film also includes non-vocal appearances of Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Eddie Brock / Venom from the television series *Spider-Man Unlimited* (1999–2001), Peter Parker / Spider-Man from the video game series *Spider-Man* (2000–2001), Peter Parker / Spider-Man from the Marvel Mangaverse, Werewolf Spider-Man from *Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness* (2007), Cyborg Spider-Woman, Bombastic Bag-Man, Julia Carpenter / Spider-Woman, Samurai Spider-Man, Spider-Canada, Anya Corazon / Araña, Spidercide, Tarantula of Earth-1610A, Mary Jane Parker / Spinneret and her daughter Anna May-Parker / Spiderling from the 2015 limited series *Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows*, Maybelle Reilly / Lady-Spider, Flash Thompson / Captain Spider, Spider-Cop, Peter Parker / Spider-Rex, Spider-Cat, Spider-Monkey, Spider-Wolf, Peter Parkedcar / Spider-Mobile, Spider-Plushie, Prince of Arachne, Last Stand Peter Parker, Doppelganger, Spider-Armor MK I, MK II, and MK III, *Earth X* Spider-Man, Future Foundation Spider-Man, Jessica Drew (classic suit), Superior Spider-Man, Iron Spider, Stealth / Big Time Spider-Man, Velocity suit Spider-Man from the *Marvel's Spider-Man* video game series, Electro Proof, Kaine Parker / Scarlet Spider, Bruce Banner / Spider-Man, Cyclops Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Woman, Mattie Franklin / Spider-Woman, Ashley Barton / Spider-Kingpin, and Spyder-Knight from the *Ultimate Spider-Man* episodes "The Spider-Verse" (2015) and "Return to the Spider-Verse" (2016). Green Goblin from the *Spider-Man* (1982) video game and Video-Man from the television series *Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends* (1981–1983) also appear.

Additionally, May "Mayday" Parker also appears as Peter B. Parker and Mary Jane's infant daughter, alongside an alternate adult version operating as Spider-Girl. Melissa Sturm voices Mary Jane "MJ" Parker, Peter B. Parker's wife and Mayday's mother. Rachel Dratch voices Ms. Weber, a counselor at Miles's school. Ziggy Marley voices Lenny, a Jamaican shop owner. Pixar animator and filmmaker Peter Sohn provides the voice for Miles' best friend and roommate Ganke Lee, after his dialogue was cut from *Into the Spider-Verse*. Atsuko Okatsuka voices Yuri Watanabe, a police colleague of Captain Stacy of Earth-65 Ayo Edebiri, Nicole Delaney, and Antonia Lentini voice Gwen's universe's versions of Glory, MJ, and Betty Brant, who are Gwen's bandmates in The MaryJanes. J. K. Simmons also reprises his role as J. Jonah Jameson, voicing various versions of the character. Jack Quaid voices the Earth-65 Peter Parker who died after transforming into the Lizard. Kathryn Hahn as Olivia "Liv" Octavius / Doctor Octopus briefly appears in flashbacks (through archival audio recordings). Post Malone's single line as a Brooklyn bystander in *Into the Spider-Verse* is reused in the film.

Live-action roles are also featured in the film, with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appearing in their respective roles as Peter Parker / Spider-Man from Sam Raimi's *Spider-Man* films and Marc Webb's *The Amazing Spider-Man* films through archival footage. Donald Glover appears as an alternate version of Aaron Davis / Prowler, reprising his role from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017). Peggy Lu reprises her role as convenience store owner Mrs. Chen from the Sony's Spider-Man Universe *Venom* films, which is identified as Earth-688. Kirsten Dunst, Cliff Robertson, Martin Sheen, Topher Grace, Denis Leary, and Emma Stone appear through archival material as Mary Jane Watson, two Ben Parkers, Eddie Brock, George Stacy, and Gwen Stacy from *Spider-Man* (2002), *The Amazing Spider-Man* (2012) and *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* (2014), respectively, with archival audio recordings of Alfred Molina's Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus from *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021) being used for an alternate version of his character with a comic book-accurate design. Chloe Bennet appears as Daisy Johnson / Quake via archival photographs from "Ascension", the third season finale of the MCU television series *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.*, seen on newspaper clippings in Miles' and Ganke's room.