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20 facts you might not know about 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'
Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment

20 facts you might not know about 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'

Do you like the whole “multiple Spider-Mans” thing? Then the Spider-Verse films are for you, and Across the Spider-Verse took things to a new level. Spider-themed folks (and pigs) of all sorts can be found in the animated sequel to the hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Would it be too much of a good thing? Or just enough of your favorite webslingers? Here are 20 facts about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, all from our universe.

 
1 of 20

Production on the sequel began before the first movie was even released

Production on the sequel began before the first movie was even released
Sony

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a big swing as an animated Spider-Man film focused on Miles Morales instead of Peter Parker. Sony was confident, though. Owing to the “incredible buzz” around the film, Across the Spider-Verse was given the go-ahead and put into development before the first film even hit theaters.

 
2 of 20

There was a new writing team and directing team

There was a new writing team and directing team
Sony

The first movie was written by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, with Rothman directing alongside Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsey. Only Lord returned for Across the Spider-Verse. He and his usual creative partner, Christopher Miller, co-wrote the script with David Callaham, with Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson directing together. Animation takes a lot of work.

 
3 of 20

Callaham is no stranger to superhero movies

Callaham is no stranger to superhero movies
Sony

Callaham did an uncredited polish of the script for Ant-Man, but later, he got to co-write another movie in the MCU, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In between those films, he dipped into the world of DC, as Callaham also co-wrote Wonder Woman 1984.

 
4 of 20

A second villain was written out

A second villain was written out
Sony

Originally, as Lord, Miller, and Callaham were putting the script together, there was a second primary antagonist. The identity is unknown, but they were eventually written out of the screenplay, with The Spot serving as the sole top-lining antagonist.

 
5 of 20

And The Spot was a tough sell

And The Spot was a tough sell
Sony

Not only were there once multiple antagonists in Across the Spider-Verse, but Jonathan Ohnn was originally not a villain in the story at all. Producer Avi Arad suggested The Spot for the role, but Lord and Miller dismissed him as too goofy and too obscure. Then, they started to think about the potential the character’s abilities had for the stories and ran with it.

 
6 of 20

An old-school Spider-Man didn’t make the cut

An old-school Spider-Man didn’t make the cut
Sony

Across the Spider-Verse is packed to the brim with Spideys — some of them from the comics, some of them created for the movie. There was one Spider-Man that Lord and Miller wanted, but that wasn't included. Takuya Yamashiro, the "Japanese Spider-Man" from a 1978 Japanese TV show, was even designed for the film but ultimately wasn't included.

 
7 of 20

One live-action Spider-Man wasn’t included

One live-action Spider-Man wasn’t included
Sony

Tom Holland said that he was approached to make a cameo in Across the Spider-Verse while he was filming No Way Home , and Zendaya and Jacob Batalon were reportedly interested as well. Though two live-action Peter Parkers, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, are in the film through archive footage, Holland didn’t end up in the movie.

 
8 of 20

A voice actor added another character into the mix

A voice actor added another character into the mix
Sony

Jorma Taccone voiced Green Goblin and “1967 Spider-Man” in the first Spider-Verse. In addition to reprising the role of Spider-Man in this movie, he added another character into the mix: The Renaissance-era Vulture.

 
9 of 20

One character didn’t make the movie (but did make a video game)

One character didn’t make the movie (but did make a video game)
Sony

Delilah, an assassin introduced in the comics in 1996, was going to play a bartender in an alternative universe in Across the Spider-Verse, but the scene was cut. However, later in 2023, the video game Spider-Man 2 was released, and Delilah was in that game.

 
10 of 20

The giant spider is an homage to another film

The giant spider is an homage to another film
Sony

The spider in the “Go Home Machine” from the Spidey headquarters is named Ynyr. If you have ever seen the cult classic sci-fi film Krull, that name may ring a bell. The Spider-Verse spider is designed after the Krull spider and is also named in its honor.

 
11 of 20

There was a guest director

There was a guest director
Sony

Preston Mutanga is a Canadian teenager who recreated the trailer for Into the Spider-Verse in Lego. The filmmakers saw it and were so impressed they offered Mutanga the chance to do a Lego sequence in Across the Spider-Verse. Yes, that scene was directed by a 14-year-old Canadian.

 
12 of 20

The film was split into two

The film was split into two
Sony

As Lord and Miller started cracking the story, they realized the story was too big for one movie. Thus, it was announced that the Into the Spider-Verse sequel would be split into Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) and Across the Spider-Verse (Part Two).

 
13 of 20

The title was changed to obfuscate the two-part nature of it all

The title was changed to obfuscate the two-part nature of it all
Sony

By April 2022, "Part One" was dropped from Across the Spider-Verse, with the second sequel being re-titled Beyond the Spider-Verse. However, Across the Spider-Verse is very much a part one. In fact, if there has been a primary criticism of Across the Spider-Verse, it is the abject lack of a conclusion, as the film essentially ends on a cliffhanger lacking in resolution.

 
14 of 20

A lot of people worked on the film

A lot of people worked on the film
Sony

Across the Spider-Verse takes place across six universes and features designs for roughly 240 characters. Yet, Lord and Miller told Sony the crew would remain the same size as with the first film. Not so much! Approximately 1,000 people worked on Across the Spider-Verse, reportedly a record for an animated movie. Notably, there were some reports of poor working conditions for animators on the film, though Sony denied them.

 
15 of 20

Daniel Kaluuya was inspired by an interesting source

Daniel Kaluuya was inspired by an interesting source
Sony

Kaluuya voices Spider-Punk, a real character from the comics, and, in our minds, the most interesting addition to the film’s universe. He said that he went to Spotify and searched for “Spider-Punk” hoping to find some user-generated playlists he could listen to for inspiration. Kaluuya said he found himself “vibing out” to the playlists, which helped him gauge the proper energy.

 
16 of 20

The release was pushed a couple of times

The release was pushed a couple of times
Sony

Across the Spider-Verse could not avoid COVID-19 complications. Originally, it had been set for release on April 8, 2022. That became October 7, but that also did not end up sticking. Eventually, Across the Spider-Verse would be released on June 2, 2023. Unlike the first film, it was not released in 3D. Also, due to issues with audio mixing on some versions sent out to theaters, Sony sent a version of the film with a new mix to all theaters.

 
17 of 20

It topped the box office once, and then did it again

It topped the box office once, and then did it again
Sony

Unsurprisingly, Across the Spider-Verse debuted atop the domestic box office. It took in $120.7 million domestically in its first weekend. The movie would then finish second in its second week and third in its third week, but then it got a second wind. Well, a down box office helped. Across the Spider-Verse made $19.3 domestically in its fourth weekend, but that was good enough to finish first.

 
18 of 20

'Across the Spider-Verse' was a huge hit (especially domestically)

'Across the Spider-Verse' was a huge hit (especially domestically)
Sony

On a budget of somewhere between $100 million and $150 million (reports differ, and COVID-impacted films saw their budgets become inflated by and large), the movie made $690.5 million worldwide. That was quite impressive and led to the film finishing sixth in the worldwide box office. Nobody will quibble with that, but Across the Spider-Verse was more popular in the United States. It made $381.3 million domestically, which was good enough to finish third, behind only Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

 
19 of 20

The film award nominations (and wins) poured in

The film award nominations (and wins) poured in
Sony

As with the first film, Across the Spider-Verse is getting lauded by all sorts of critics groups. Now, it is mostly competing in the animated realm, including at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes. However, the AFI named the movie one of its 10 best of the year in any genre and style.

 
20 of 20

That sequel (and a spinoff) will arrive…eventually

That sequel (and a spinoff) will arrive…eventually
Sony

Beyond the Spider-Verse is happening. We know this. Originally, it was scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024. Among the complaints levied against working conditions, though, was that there was no way the film would be done in time for that release date. Then, the SAG-AFTRA strike happened. Now, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has taken that spot for Sony, and Beyond the Spider-Verse has no official release date. In 2023, a spinoff called Spider-Woman was announced, featuring Gwen Stacy and Jess Drew, among others.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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