Spider-Man: No Way Home may be the latest hit but the story line and use of a "Spider-Verse" will already be familiar to many Marvel fans.
That's because just three years prior, the Oscar-winning animation Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced the concept to movie-goers, pulling in different Spider-men and women from alternate realities.
Phil Lord, co-writer and producer of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse assures Newsweek there's no hard feelings when it comes to the repetition in storytelling.
"A rising tide lifts all boats," he told Newsweek.
"Look, we're really happy for, especially Amy Pascal, our partner on the Spider-Verse movies," he added. "And our friends Chris [McKenna] and Erik [Sommers] wrote it, so it's further proof that going into different dimensions and seeing different facets of Spider-Man, it works."
Amy Pascal produced both Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the recent live-action Spider-Man: No Way Home starring Tom Holland.
While No Way Home focused on the character of Peter Parker and (SPOILER ALERT) other versions of him we have seen in previous Spider-Man movies, Into the Spider-Verse followed Miles Morales' journey and used the multiple universes to introduce characters like Spider-Woman, Spider-Ham and Spider-Man Noir.
In the comics there have been many iterations of Spider-Man with different identities, and the Spider-Verse story line was first used in a 2014-15 story published by Marvel Comics. It was then first adapted to the big screen by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 2018, then adapted again into live action for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Lord thinks the continued use of the Spider-Verse concept will only benefit his franchise of Spider-Man movies going forwards. "It only helps us be bolder and crazier on the Across the Spider-Verse that we're working on now," Lord said.
The original movie was such a hit, two sequels have already been announced, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part Two). Shameik Moore will return as Miles Morales alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson. Oscar Isaac is joining the cast as Miguel O'Hara and Issa Rae will voice Jessica Drew.
Another spin-off is being developed, focusing on three generations of female Spidey heroes. Deadline reported that Sony are working on an animated Spider-Women film with Bek Smith (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) writing the script with Pascal producing once again.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) released its first full trailer in December 2021 and is currently scheduled to release in the United States on October 7, 2022. Part Two is due to follow closely afterwards with a 2023 release.
Lord was talking to Newsweek ahead of the launch of his new Apple TV+ show The Afterparty, which launches on Friday January 28. He produces the new comedy alongside his regular collaborator Christopher Miller who created and directed the murder mystery series.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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