At a certain point, every comic book superhero undergoes a seemingly infinite progression of alternate versions and fresh new takes. Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes of all time and is a great example, complete with many varied Spider-People who could be showcased in the upcoming Across the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced big-screen audiences to five brand new versions of the iconic hero. Up-and-coming Spider-Man Miles Morales is aided on his quest by an alternate Peter Parker, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man Noir, SP//dr, and Spider-Ham. The trailer for the sequel focuses heavily on Spider-Man 2099, raising the total up to seven. All wildly different alternate versions with rich histories and fascinating directions for the character, but there exist many more Spider-People who could populate the ranks of the team as Miles' adventures continue.
Spider-UK
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The Spider-Verse film franchise shares its name with a 2010's comic book series which is also centered around multiple Spider-People crossing dimensions to battle villains. This series introduced a number of these characters, including Spider-Gwen, and one of its most important fixtures is Billy Braddock AKA Spider-UK. Braddock is a member of the Captain Britain Corps, a very English league of superheroes who protect the multiverse from all manner of threats.
Each member of the corps is an alternate version of Captain Britain, each of which is granted a different first name and superhero identity in their new home world. Spider-UK uses a multiverse hopping wristwatch to recruit fellow Spider-People to battle a multiversal threat against all of their many alternative versions. Spider-Man 2099 seems to be taking up this role, so it only seems fair that this English wall crawler get a place in the plot.
Spider-Monkey
The Spider-Man of Earth-8101 is not much of a man at all. 8101 is also known as Apeverse, a reality in which all of Earth's population are non-human primates. Subsequently, this world's Peter Parker is a sapient spider monkey who was, ironically, bitten by a radioactive spider. This iteration of the character is less focused on scientific genius, more animalistic, and strangely, very morally different from his counterparts.
The justice system of 8101 is brutal, capital punishment is so common that nearly every supervillain is punished with swift execution. Spider-Monkey is, uniquely, a superhero who will kill his enemies. This makes the character a real mixed bag; the filmmakers could play up the cartoony aspects of the character for fun animal humor, or touch on his different moral code to add an unexpected edge.
1967 Spider-Man
Technically already introduced into the franchise in the post-credits scene of Into the Spider-Verse, the Spider-Man of the character's first-ever on-screen adaptation could return in the sequel. Portrayed by Jorma Taccone, the 1967 cartoon version of Spider-Man could be a fascinating entry to the team for visual gags alone. Spider-Verse is one of the most visually stellar pieces of animation ever created, every frame stands as a testament to what can be done with the medium.
Introducing a character from a very different period of animation, one in which even drawing the web pattern on his outfit was often too labor-intensive, would be hilarious and visually entertaining. Earth 67's Spider-Man is a fairly standard take on Peter Parker, though most of his world differs greatly from other iterations, making Spider-Man 67 both visually and narratively alienated from his peers. The character's unique limitations make him a funny and intriguing addition to the series, demonstrating just how far the medium has come while paying respect to the classics.
Spiders-Man
The time has come for a truly, deeply, unforgivably horrific take on Spider-Man. Spiders-Man is from Earth-11580, a world in which Peter Parker, instead of being bitten by one radioactive spider, was consumed by thousands of them. Parker's grisly death somehow caused these countless arachnids to coalesce into a sapient hive mind that fully believes themselves to be Peter Parker. Subsequently, the writhing mass of spiders combine into a vaguely human shape, don the iconic Spider-Suit and begin fighting crime.
Spiders-Man does not have the typical powers of his namesake, instead, they simply defeat any foes they encounter by overwhelming them with spiders and eating them alive, which leads them to develop a taste for human flesh. Spiders-Man is usually technically a hero, but often uses unethical methods to achieve their goals and seems to lack any conventional understanding of morality. Spiders-Man is the kind of wide-awake nightmare that could be perfect for young adult horror while also providing the first antagonistic Spider-Person for the series.
Benjamin Reilly
One of the most controversial characters in comic book history, Ben is the centerpiece of the much-maligned Clone Saga storyline, and his path through the narrative has been extremely messy since then. The Spider-Verse films would be the first big-screen appearance of Ben Reilly, giving the chance to introduce the character to a new audience. Ben is a genetic clone of Peter Parker created by the supervillain Jackal with the intention of using him against Parker. He has since taken up the mantle of Jackal and Spider-Man, as well as making his own name as Scarlet Spider.
Across the Spider-Verse is a story about Miles Morales; imagine a conversation between Miles and a fellow hero who took a different Parker's mantle. Or a villain who was once just like him. Or better yet, a man who has experienced the heights of heroism and villainy. Reilly's personality was once a carbon copy of Peter Parker's, but years of vastly different experiences could mold him into a very different character. Make Ben Reilly the world-weary hero trying his best in spite of his past. Peter B. Parker helped Miles find his way as a hero, Ben could help him empathize with even his greatest villain.
