Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller say that Hollywood executives doubted audiences would understand the concept of multiverses when their Spider-Man film series launched.
During an interview with Empire Magazine, Lord and Miller explained how studios initially thought the idea of a Spider-Man multiverse could fail if viewers struggled to follow what's happening. However, Miller insisted fans were savvy enough to understand the parallel dimensions and the various Spider-People who appeared in them. "There’ve been a bunch of multiverse things since ours came out," he said. "When we started on [Into The Spider-Verse], studios were nervous that audiences wouldn’t be able to follow this idea of parallel dimensions. But audiences are smarter than people give them credit for. [Our film] opened the door for people to do things they wanted to do, but were afraid would be too out-there.'
Lord said he knew viewers understood the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the 2018 film that launched the shared multiverse of alternate universes for the Spider-Man franchise, judging by their reactions to test screenings. "We probably spurred the horses," Lord said. "In those test screenings for Into The Spider-Verse, audiences weren’t confused by the Multiverse; they were electrified by it. That must have been eye-opening for any studio executives in the room..."
Everything Fans Loved About the Spider-Verse, and More
Into the Spider-Verse proved a hit with audiences, grossing over $384 million on a $90 million budget, receiving critical acclaim for its story arc, voice acting and humor. Across the Spider-Verse is the hotly anticipated sequel, bringing back Shameik Moore as Miles Morales/Spider-Man and Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Man, Miles' best friend. Additionally, the movie features an array of familiar Spider-People from alternate universes including Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Hobart "Hobie" Brown/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) and Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae).
Along with Across the Spider-Verse, the Spider-Verse film series will include Beyond the Spider-Verse, set for release on Mar. 29, 2024, and a female-focused spinoff movie which is in development. Meanwhile, Moore has said he hopes to play a live-action version of Miles Morales in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying in an interview earlier this month how various Hollywood figures feel he's ideal to play the role. However, the 27-year-old actor said, "it just depends on how old they want Miles to be" should there eventually be a live-action film, suggesting he might be too old to play the character. Across the Spider-Verse is co-directed by Joaquin Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, with Lord and Miller also receiving production credits.
Across the Spider-Verse opens in theaters on Jun. 2.
Source: Empire Magazine