A new scoop seems to indicate that the Marvel Cinematic Universe and recent video game versions of Spider-Man will show up in Sony Pictures Animation's upcoming sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. But as enticing as that news sounds, it may not be the whole story.
The highly-anticipated follow-up to 2017's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has already gotten fans all hyped up thanks to hints at characters like the Scarlet Spider showing up. But given the popularity of Spider-Man in other forms of media, many of those same fans have been wondering whether 2 of the most popular current versions of the web-slinging hero would make an appearance as well. Now, it looks as though things are trending in the direction of "yes."
Nerdy news scoop site The Cosmic Circus now claims it can confirm the appearance of both the MCU Spider-Man and the version from Insomniac's Spider-Man PlayStation games in Across the Spider-Verse. This would be pretty huge, as such a crossover pushes even the bounds of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe pulled off with Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. That's not even to mention the decades-spanning mashup featuring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
However, there's a bit of a catch. The Cosmic Circus also added the caveat that there was no indication of Holland actually returning to play his version of Spider-Man in the film. The same applies to veteran voice actor Yuri Lowenthal's version of Spider-Man, seen in Insomniac's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales for the PS4 and PS5. This seems to indicate that the characters may only appear as cameos, possibly without even getting speaking lines.
This would make sense, considering how much more mainstream exposure Holland and Lowenthal's Spider-Men have had compared to most of the others appearing in Across the Spider-Verse like Spider-Punk. But it could also mean that the filmmakers intend to ask the two actors to reprise their roles, though are also preparing for the possibility of them both turning down the offer. Either way, it would be a pretty big deal to see such high-profile characters in the movie.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse already has a lot going for it, with returning heroes like Gwen Stacy and newbies like the originally-teased Spider-Man 2099. So whether or not Holland and Lowenthal show up this time around, it's bound to be another spectacle of animation and storytelling just like its predecessor.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently set to release in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Source: The Cosmic Circus
