Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis not only one of the most anticipated animated films of 2023, but also one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The sequel toSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versehas plenty of expectations on it, as its predecessor was not only critically acclaimed but also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Picture. The sequel has already started to make waves, with theinclusion of Oscar Isaacas Spider-Man 2099, a poster that highlights many of Spider-Man variants, and the reveal that Jason Schwartzman will voice the villain The Spot.
The film was originally intended to be one sequel, but in December 2021 producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller confirmed it would be split into two parts as the work on the sequel had grown so large it was decided to split it into two films titledSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part OneandPart Two. In April 2022, Sony Pictures decided to give each film its own titles withSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseset for release on July 12, 2025, andSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseset for theaters on June 09, 2025. Despite a great deal of goodwillSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versegenerated there are concerns about splitting the film into two parts.
Hollywood’s History of Split Sequels Is Not a Sure Thing
Most sequels are made one at a time, but there is a rare case when two sequels are made back to back.Back to the Future IIandBack to the Future III,The Matrix ReloadedandThe Matrix Revolutions, andPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s ChestandPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s Endare all cases of sequels that were greenlit and made back to back. While the reaction to those various entries is mixed, a common criticism among them is that they feel like one giant misshapen sequel with the second entry running in place while the third one quickly needs to wrap things up instead of being their own standalone works. This is a concern forSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versewhich the filmmakers have said was split into two films because of how many ideas they had.
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Now that isn’t always the case. TheBack to the Futuretrilogy is a beloved trilogy and both theMatrixsequels and thePirates of the Caribbeansequels have seen a cultural resurgence among them. Also worth noting isAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamewhich like the newSpider-Versesequels were originally planned as more clear Part One and Part Two before being made into their distinct films with their own titles. There is always a chance that this story does need to be split into two different films while managing to be stand-alone adventures.
Are the Release Dates Too Close (Or Has it Been Too Long?)
By the timeSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versehits theaters, the movie will be opening almost five years after the release ofSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versewhich is a long time for a sequel, particularly an animated sequel. Because of this long gap in time and in an effort to not lose more,Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseis set to open in theaters nine months afterSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This means the trilogy of films will be told over six years, but with a longer gap between the first and second films than the second and third.
This could go one of two ways. On the positive side, audiences are so eager to see more that they rush out to see the third film building off the positive reaction to the third movie, as was the case with bothAvengers: EndgameandPirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End. On the other hand, if the second film received more mixed to negative reviews audiences might be less eager to rush out for the third film as what happened withThe Matrix Revolutionswhich greatly underperformed compared toThe Matrix Reloaded. There is a chanceBeyond the Spider-Verseopens in theaters right after the 96th Academy Awards and ifAcross the Spider-Versecan win Best Animated Film like its predecessor, then that would be some incredible publicity for the third movie.
Feeds the Appetite for Spider-Man
Across the Spider-Verseand its sequelBeyond the Spider-Verseare now in a unique position the first film was not in.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versewas released in betweenSpider-Man: HomecomingandSpider-Man: Far From Home. WhileSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versegrew into a hit organically, at the beginning it was more of a side project while the main focus was on theMCU Spider-Man films.
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Yet nowSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis the main Spider-Man event film, both in the fact that it is a sequel to a beloved Academy Award winner and the fact that there are no current plans for the MCU Spider-Man. While Sony and Marvel Studios will likely work out a deal soon there is no indicator of if or when that will happen, so for the time being there is no live-action film focused on Spider-Man. By default, that makesSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versethe event Spider-Man film, and it looks to deliver more Spider-Man than audiences will know what to do with.
This Is Only the Beginning
WhileSpider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseandSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseis set for release, this is only the beginning of Sony’s place for an interconnected Spider-Man franchise. They have already crafted a universe of live-action films withVenom,Venom: Let There Be Carnage,andMorbius, and that willcontinue withKraven the HunterandMadame Web. Yet they are also crafting an interconnected animated Spider-Man franchise using the Spider-Verse concept as the key to their own bigger plans.
Spider-Gwen is already confirmed to be getting her own film, which will be titled Spider-Women. The film will reportedly see Spider-Gwen team up with Spider-Woman (who will be introduced inAcross the Spider-Versevoiced by Issa Rae), and Silk.Silk will get a live-action seriesat Prime Video, with Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller attached, which suggests the Spider-Verse franchise will continue on beyond animation and into live-action. The title for the third film,Beyond the Spider-Verse, may imply that the franchise will venture into live-action. There is a chance Sony Pictures will use the multiverse to connect their various Spider-Man teased inAcross the Spider-Versewith their live-action film franchise and make one united franchise that exists across animation and live-action.
