Even though the film was delayed until 2023, the anticipation for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is high, especially after Into The Spider-Verse's impressive debut. The upcoming Marvel sequel is expected to cross dimensions once again, but details about which other Spider-Man Variants will appear are still being kept under wraps.
However, it was confirmed that Shameik Moore's Miles Morales, Hailee Steinfeld's Gwen Stacy, Jake Johnson's Peter B. Parker, and Oscar Isaac's Spider-Man 2099 will be featured.
The exact plot details are still shrouded in secrecy, but the film's first trailer gave a solid preview of Miles and Spider-Man 2099's travel across the Multiverse. It is unknown if there are MCU connections in the sequel, but the movie's directors teased that there could be possible references.
Now, more details about the sequel has emerged during CinemaCon 2022.
A Stacked Spider-Verse Sequel
During CinemaCon 2022, Sony Pictures showcased more details about Spider-Man Across the SpiderVerse in a special panel.
Collider's Steven Weintraub shared that the film's directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, revealed that the upcoming animated Marvel movie has "240 characters" and "takes place in 6 universes." The pair also unveiled that there are "1,000 people" who are working on the movie:
So @philiplord and @chrizmillr just said the #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse has 240 characters and takes place in 6 universes and 1,000 people are working on it.Also they are showing the first 15 minutes of the movie right now!
In comparison, Spider-Man: Into The SpiderVerse had 40 characters. Meanwhile, Fandango's Erik Davis shared the following quote from Lord and Miller, with the directors saying that the sequel is "way, way bigger than the last one:"
"Phil Lord and Chris Miller are on stage to talk Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. The sequel is way, way bigger than the last one. It’s the largest crew of an animated movie ever,” says Chris Miller. This film has 240 characters. The first film had 40. Takes place on 6 universes."
More Spider-Man Variants Are Coming
This latest update to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse means that the sequel will have a plethora of Spider-Man Variants. During the first film, every Spider-Man Variant had a substantial role, but based on this character count for the sequel, it's safe to assume that not everyone will have a significant role.
Given that the first trailer showed Miles Morales and Miguel O'Hara fighting across the Multiverse, it's possible that some of the Spider-Man Variants will be featured in glorified cameos.
Meanwhile, the confirmation that it will take place in six universes could hint that the movie will likely spend some time in the home universes of Spider-Gwen, Peter B. Parker, and other Spider-Man Variants. The sequel is clearly taking it up a notch, considering that the first film only featured the different Spider-Man Variants on Miles' prime Earth.
Seeing more of Spider-Gwen and Peter B. Parker's Earths also presents the opportunity to explore more of their backstory and introduce more characters from their universe.
The fact that there are 1,000 people working on Across the Spider-Verse also makes the film special, and it also cements how massive it will be. The good news is this is only the first part, and signs point that its follow-up, which is Beyond the Spider-Verse, will also take things to another level.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set to premiere in theaters on June 2, 2023.
