There were so many things that made Spider-Man: IntoThe Spider-Verse an incredibly special film – not just the ways in which it broke and remade the medium of animation in its own image, or that it took such a knowing, meta approach to the oft-told Spidey story. But it was an incredibly emotional film too, with characters you loved and gut-punches you didn’t see coming. And while much has been said of the visual ante being upped with two-part sequel Across The Spider-Verse and Beyond The Spider-Verse (and, make no mistake, this brand new trailer is jam-packed with mind-boggling images and cool action moments), prepare yourself: this latest look at next year’s hugely-anticipated Across The Spider-Verse is a real heart-squeezer too. Dive in here:
First things first: that’s a lot of Spider-Men (or, -People). And, holy smokes, this looks absolutely epic. The MC Escher shot of all the Spider-Peeps walking on differently-angled platforms! The Vulture-vs-Spider-Woman motorbike brawl! That shot of Spider-Man 2099 barreling towards the camera! All the talk of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and their directors – Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin Thompson – going for broke after the success of the first film feels fully justified. But who guessed that the framing device for this teaser would be a monologue from Miles’ mother Rio (Luna Lauren Vélez), reflecting on her son growing up, his changing place in the world and in her life, and her worries of how the world will treat him? It’s surprisingly emotional stuff, and that’s just as exciting as the visual pyrotechnics.
Here’s the official synopsis: “After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.” Shameik Moore returns to voice Miles Morales, with Hailee Steinfeld as Spider-Gwen, Jake Johnson as Peter B Parker, and Oscar Isaac making his debut proper as Spider-Man 2099 after his first film cameo. Also in the cast is Issa Rae as Spider-Woman, Jason Schwartzman as villain The Spot, Jorma Taccone as Vulture, and Daniel Kaluuya as the British, guitar-playing Spider-Punk. Both Lord and Miller are on scripting duties, joined by Shang-Chi’s David Callaham.
If Across The Spider-Verse wasn’t on your must-see list for 2023 (and honestly, why wouldn’t it be?), then it surely is now. It thwips into cinemas in June 2023.