Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's Surprise Cameos, Explained

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Sony's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, in theaters now.

If you haven't already heard, critics and audiences -- in a rare occurrence -- seem to completely agree that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever told and one of the rare adaptations that focus on Miles Morales instead of Peter Parker. It presents the world of Spider-Man in playful ways and respects its source material as well as the creative minds that shaped it.

One of the ways with which it does that is by making sure that none of the little surprises that litter the film are wasted on cheap laughs or pure fan service. Each one blends into the film or serves a purpose, which is one of the reasons why it's easy to miss some of the vocal cameos we're about to run down.

Chris Pine as Peter Parker

In the trailer, the voice of Peter Parker is that of Jake Johnson, who plays Peter B. Parker. He's the older, world-weary Spider-Man that is pulled into Miles Morales' universe, eventually taking on the responsibility of mentoring Miles (sort of) when the original Spidey meets his grim end at the hands of Kingpin. We don't see the original for long -- just enough to get a quick impression of what he's like as a superhero so we can compare and contrast Spider-Man in his prime to the slightly more cynical one that ends up mentoring the up and comer.

When we hear him speak, it quickly becomes clear that the original Spider-Man's voice is notably different from the older, less blonde Peter that appears later on. That's because the voice we hear is that of Chris Pine, who brings the same nobility, wit and strength to the short-lived character that he brought to the last major superhero film he appeared in: Wonder Woman.

Kathryn Hahn as Olivia Octavius

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Doc Ock appears in the film, only not as many might have expected. In Miles' universe, Doc Ock is the alter ego of a scientist named Olivia Octavius, who works for Alchemax under Wilson Fisk, the film's main antagonist. Liv is the brains behind Kingpin's entire interdimensional project, and evidently the only real protection Alchemax has from intruders like Spider-Man.

A character like Doc Ock in this particular film needs to be menacing but fun. Fitting that role perfectly is Kathryn Hahn, who brings levity and just a touch of insanity to Olivia. Her appearance is a little more than just a cameo, but it's surprising enough to be included in this list.

NEXT PAGE: Childish Gambino, Oscar Isaac and Zoe Kravitz's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Cameos

Donald Glover as Himself

Blink and you'll miss this cameo by Donald Glover in the film's recreation of one scene from Community in which Glover, as Troy Barnes, dresses up in Spider-Man pajamas. The original scene itself was a nod to the fans that wanted to see Glover as Peter Parker in the film that would be the 2012's Amazing Spider-Man (directed by Marc Webb).

Miles and his uncle Aaron can be seen watching the scene on TV before Aaron teaches his nephew the move that will eventually help the young hero to save the world. It's a clever Easter egg and a perfect example of how the film is able to throw subtle nods here and there without forcing a single one of them, as films usually do.

Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099

Unless you're a rookie when it comes to watching superhero films, you'll know to stay seated in the theater until the very end of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. If you did, you would have seen an equally exciting and funny post-credits sequence that helps set up a sequel and, for those with great ears, reveals Oscar Isaac as the voice of none other than Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099.

O'Hara receives a considerably less destructive and simple interdimensional travel device than the one seen throughout the film, which transports him to a different dimension where he immediately meets a version of Spider-Man who might feel familiar to audience members who grew up in the 1960s, or kids who recognize popular Internet memes. It's more than just a funny bit, though; it's a way of leading into a sequel which, thanks to the popularity and reception for Into the Spider-Verse, is already in the works.

Zoe Kravitz as Mary Jane Watson

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It's tough to tell a Spider-Man story without including one of the most important characters in Spidey's world: Mary Jane. It only makes sense, then, that she makes an appearance in Into the Spider-Verse, and although it's brief, there's weight to it. The first time we hear MJ is after the demise of the Peter Parker of Miles' dimension. She's first heard, then shown giving a moving speech about how everyone is capable of being a hero, and in that way, everyone is Spider-Man.

She appears a second time as a means of giving Peter B. Parker a way of coming to terms with all the confusing emotions that turned him into a cynic. He's able to subtly (and clumsily) make amends by admitting that, despite what he felt before, he is in fact able to give her the closure she deserves. The appearance of MJ might have been easily dismissed as mere fan service, were it not for the gravitas of Zoe Kravitz's performance as Spidey's famous red-headed partner.

Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse stars Shameik Moore, Brian Tyree Henry, Jake Johnson, Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, Luna Lauren Velez, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas Cage, John Mulaney and Kimiko Glenn. The film is in theaters nationwide.