The highly anticipated third film in Sony's Spider-Verse series, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, has been the subject of recent speculation, with reports suggesting the movie's development was in trouble. However, producer Chris Miller has firmly denied these rumors, assuring fans that everything is progressing smoothly.
On Tuesday, Miller
addressed claims made by the popular newsletter The InSneider, which alleged
that Sony had "scrapped most" of the third Spider-Verse movie due to
creative challenges. According to the report, this supposed overhaul would
delay the film's release significantly, with some speculating that it wouldn't
hit theaters before 2027. The rumors caused a wave of concern among fans of the
franchise, who eagerly await the follow-up to the critically acclaimed
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
However, Miller swiftly
shut down these rumors with a post on X (formerly Twitter). "Nothing has
been scrapped," he wrote. "The reels are coming along nicely."
His statement provided much-needed reassurance to fans who had started to worry
that the third film was in jeopardy. Miller’s comment followed a similar
response from Spider-Verse composer Daniel Pemberton, who also took to X to
dispute the claims. Pemberton sarcastically remarked, “Don’t really ever want
to weigh in on this sort of stuff, BUT would you ever believe there could
sometimes be stuff on the internet that might not always be particularly
accurate? Hmmmm…”
The InSneider report also
suggested that while the creative team behind Beyond the Spider-Verse was
caught off guard by a supposed change in direction, they were relieved to have
more time to work on the project. The article highlighted the importance of
ensuring the franchise’s conclusion lived up to the high standards set by the
previous films. However, it seems the producers and crew are on track, and the
additional time is likely being used to refine and perfect the film, rather
than rebuild it from the ground up.
Behind-the-Scenes
Challenges in the Spider-Verse
The Spider-Verse
franchise has garnered critical acclaim and won an Academy Award for its
groundbreaking animation and fresh take on the Spider-Man lore. However, the
road to delivering such high-quality films has not always been smooth. In June
2023, Vulture published an exposé about the working conditions during the
production of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the second installment in
the franchise. According to the report, the film’s production was marked by
long hours and intense pressure, with approximately 100 artists leaving the
project due to the demanding work environment.
Animators described
11-hour workdays, seven days a week, as they raced to complete the film in time
for its release. This level of stress and constant revisions led to frustration
among the team, as they were often asked to make last-minute changes and redo
final renders multiple times. Some animators reportedly felt demoralized by the
process, struggling to keep up with the constant revisions.
In response to the Vulture article, franchise producer Amy Pascal acknowledged the challenges of working in animation, but defended the process. “One of the things about animation that makes it such a wonderful thing to work on is that you get to keep going until the story is right,” she explained. Pascal’s remarks reflected the perfectionist attitude that has driven the franchise to its artistic heights, even if it has come at the cost of grueling work conditions for the animators. To those who were frustrated by the frequent revisions, she added, “I guess, welcome to making a movie.”
Despite these
behind-the-scenes difficulties, Across the Spider-Verse was a resounding
success, both critically and commercially. The film's striking animation,
layered storytelling, and inventive use of the multiverse concept earned it
widespread praise, solidifying the Spider-Verse franchise as one of the most
exciting and visually unique in modern cinema.
Strike Impacts and Delays
The production of Beyond
the Spider-Verse has faced additional challenges beyond creative disputes. The
ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has halted many film and television productions
across Hollywood, has affected the voice cast’s ability to complete their
dialogue recording for the movie. In July 2023, Sony removed Beyond the
Spider-Verse from its release calendar, which was originally slated for March
29, 2024. At the time, sources indicated that the strike had made it impossible
for the cast to finish their work, leaving the film’s release date up in the
air.
While no new release date
has been announced yet, fans are hopeful that the situation will be resolved
soon, allowing the production team to resume work on the film. Given the
complexity of the animation process, the delay may actually benefit the final
product, as it provides the animators and other creators with more time to
polish and perfect the movie.
Sticking the Landing
As one of the most successful animated franchises of recent years, the pressure to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the Spider-Verse trilogy is immense. Fans have high expectations for Beyond the Spider-Verse, especially after the massive success of Across the Spider-Verse. The third film is expected to continue the story of Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and their multiversal adventures, with the potential to introduce even more Spider-people from across different dimensions.
For now, the details
about Beyond the Spider-Verse remain under wraps, and fans can only speculate
about the direction the story will take. However, Miller’s assurance that “nothing
has been scrapped” indicates that the film is still very much in development,
and the team is focused on delivering a worthy conclusion to the franchise.
While the delay caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike is unfortunate, it seems that the creative team is using this time wisely to ensure the film meets the high bar set by its predecessors. In an industry where rushed productions can often result in underwhelming final products, the additional time may ultimately benefit Beyond the Spider-Verse, allowing it to reach its full potential.
In the meantime, fans can
take solace in the fact that the wheels are still turning, and the highly
anticipated conclusion to the Spider-Verse trilogy is “coming along nicely,”
according to Miller. With the talented team behind the franchise working hard
to deliver another groundbreaking film, the wait may just be worth it.
The Spider-Verse
continues to excite and captivate audiences, and while challenges persist, it’s
clear that the dedication and passion of the creators will ensure a memorable
and powerful conclusion to the trilogy.