Spider-Man: About the Spider-Verse is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This episode introduces fans to Miguel O’Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099. While Miguel plays an important role in the film, co-director Kemp Powers says in an interview with SFX magazine, revealed that his role as Spider-Man 2099 goes beyond that of a traditional villain. Powers highlights Miguel’s relatable goals and emphasizes that while he becomes an adversary to Miles, viewers may side with his perspective. As the leader of the Spider-Force, Miguel carries an immense sense of responsibility that extends beyond one neighborhood. He is portrayed as a fascinating character who, despite his contradictory dynamic with Miles, is ultimately portrayed as a good guy rather than a villain.
“Miguel will certainly be an opponent of Miles, but his goals are very understandable,” said Kemp. “Some people might side with Miles’ perspective, but some people might side with Miguel. You know, Miguel is the leader of this Spider-Force for a reason. He carries this incredible sense of responsibility. Spider-Man is always been your friendly neighborhood. Spider-Man and Miguel are very different because his responsibilities go far beyond a particular neighborhood. He’s just a fascinating character, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s a good guy.”
Miguel’s futuristic iteration of Spider-Man deviates from the familiar story of radioactive spider bites, as he crafted his own super suit. Featuring a talented cast, including Shameik Moore reprising his role as Miles Morales, Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy, and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker, the sequel promises an exciting exploration of the Spider-Verse, introducing new characters such as Spider Woman. , Spider-Man India and Spider-Punk, played by Issa Rae, Karan Soni and Daniel Kaluuya respectively.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sets sights on Predecessor’s opening weekend
Spider-Man: About the Spider-Verse has raised many expectations as it gears up to surpass its predecessor in terms of opening weekend revenue. The projections indicate a promising start for the film, with Box Office Pro estimating a minimum domestic income of $85 million within its first three days of release. If these projections are correct, it would more than double the opening weekend earnings of its predecessor, which debuted with $35.4 million. What’s more, the high-end projections are even more optimistic, pointing to potential earnings of up to $105 million, nearly tripling the previous installment’s earnings. The high expectations are partly due to the success and positive reception of In the Spider-Verse both with critics and the public.
In addition to the high expectations for box office successes, Spider-Man: About the Spider-Verse is notable for its considerable maturity. The film has been confirmed to have a running time of 140 minutes, making it one of the longest Western animated films to date. Producer Amy Pascal has previously emphasized the importance of character-driven storytelling in sequels, where emotional involvement is more important than mere spectacle. She believes caring for the characters is paramount, and only striving for bigger and grander elements without a real connection would be pointless. Pascal has also revealed that Across the Spider-Verse revolves around a love story between Miles and Gwen, adding emotional depth and personal touch to the film’s story.
Spider-Man: About the Spider-Verse will hit theaters on June 2, 2023.