The people behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse promise that the film's lead villain is far stronger than he ever has been in the comics.

Per Empire, writer-producer Christopher Miller, co-director Joaquim Dos Santos, and producer Amy Pascal offered some insight into what audiences can expect from the film's main antagonist - The Spot. Dos Santos noted, "In the comics, The Spot was a low-rent character, but he has all the potential in the world." Miller explained, "He starts off goofy, with his Looney Tunes portals, but as the movie progresses he gets more powerful. You have to take him seriously." Pascal added, "He's a character everyone found great comedy and pathos in."

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Who is The Spot in Marvel Comics?

First appearing in 1985's Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #98 by writer Al Milgrom and artist Herb Trimpe, the villain who would come to be known as the Spot was originally scientist Jonathan Ohnn. While working for the Kingpin alongside fellow future supervillain Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio, Ohnn's attempts to recreate the powers of the hero Cloak brought him through a series of portals that imbued him with the ability to create his own.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse co-director Kemp Powers commented on the character in December. Powers said, "The Spot is an interesting villain because he seems like a joke, but when you really look at his powers, there's incredible potential. His ability to open portals across dimensions sets him up perfectly for the Spider-Verse." Powers also confirmed The Spot's return in the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, saying, "He's the villain of the next two films… and let's just say that The Spot and Miles are connected in surprising ways."

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Into the Spider-Verse Adds Hundreds of Spider-Man Variants

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set to introduce not only The Spot, voiced by Jason Schwartzman, but upwards of 200 various iterations of the titular hero. Miller stated in April 2022 that "Amidst the universe-hopping there are 240 unique characters... but they're mostly minor or background characters." Among these will be Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099, voiced by Oscar Isaac in a reprisal of his cameo appearance at the end of the first film. Isaac will be joined by an ensemble cast including Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis, Luna Lauren Vélez as Rio Morales, and Issa Rae as Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swings into theaters on June 2.

Source: Empire