Prior to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's release back in June, many fans were adamant the animated sequel would feature appearances from all three live-action Spider-Men.
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's respective wall-crawlers did make an appearance courtesy of archival footage, but there was no sign of Tom Holland's Peter Parker. Both he and Doctor Strange received a mention from Spider-Man 2099 (referencing the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home), but that was it.
However, thanks to Toonado.com, we now have a first look at what appears to be his scrapped cameo.
In this newly surfaced concept art from Across the Spider-Verse, you'll spot a weirdly adorable Chibi version of Spider-Man wearing his red and black MCU costume.
For whatever reason - and it could be as simple as the artist responsible for this piece throwing the suit design in for a chuckle - the decision was made for Holland to remain on Earth-616. One possible concern might have been that his showing up would distract from Miles Morales' story, though Holland not having a deal in place with Sony when the movie was in production is probably the main reason for the actor's absence.
That could change in the now-undated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, but it definitely would have been fun to hear Holland's voice, only to realise it was actually a weird Chibi Variant instead of the MCU web-slinger we're all so familiar with.
Check out this new Across the Spider-Verse concept art in the Tweet/X below.
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.
But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
The movie stars Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, Jason Schwartzman, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Greta Lee, Rachel Dratch, Jorma Taccone, Shea Whigham, and Oscar Isaac.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now available on Digital and arrives on Blu-ray starting September 5.
Click on the "Next" button below to check out some of our favourite
Easter Eggs from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse!
10. Ultimate Fallout
In Spider-Gwen's bedroom, there's a poster for a band called "Ultimate Fallout."
The comic book fans among you will recall that Ultimate Fallout #4 marked Miles Morales' debut on the page in the wake of Peter Parker's death. He fights Kangaroo before unmasking as the much younger web-slinger, a moment that generated a lot of headlines at the time.
Talking of Gwen Stacy's music interests, the fact she's part of a band called the Mary Janes is also a nod to the source material.
9. Spider-Man Video Game
After what Miles' roommate saw in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we suppose the teen becoming privy to his pal's superhero activities was inevitable.
However, we learn in Across the Spider-Verse that this is Ganke Lee, the title character's best friend from the comics. While he watches Miles return to their dorm room, he can be seen playing a Spider-Man video game. However, we believe that's actually footage from Insomniac's upcoming sequel, Spider-Man 2.
You'll also notice that Ganke doesn't want to be Miles' "guy in the chair," separating him from the MCU's Ned Leeds.
8. Yuri Watanabe
The movie kicks off with a Vulture from another reality attacking the Guggenheim in New York City. That alone could explain how Adrian Toomes ended up in the same reality as Morbius, a handy retcon for Sony Pictures.
However, you might notice that Captain George Stacy is joined during this part of the movie by Yuri Watanabe.
First introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #600, she was one of the web-slinger's closest allies before becoming disillusioned with her job and taking on the villainous mantle of The Wraith. That's a story we expect to see tackled in the aforementioned Spider-Man 2.
7. Metro Boomin's Spider-Man
When Miles is on the run from the Spider Society, he's eventually confronted by an entire army of his fellow Spider-Heroes.
If you're wondering who the Spidey decked out in a black and white costume and hanging upside down is, that's a newly created Variant voiced by music producer Metro Boomin. He was brought on board Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to produce its soundtrack, something which clearly earned him a cameo role.
That's probably it for this Spider-Man, but it's a cool Easter Egg for Boomin's sizeable fanbase.
6. J. Jonah Jameson
It appears J.K. Simmons is J. Jonah Jameson in every reality because the actor makes at least a few cameo appearances in this sequel.
As well as criticising Miles' actions on his Earth, we see a LEGO version too (though that one appears to be spouting dialogue recycled from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2). He can also be heard on Earth-42, but we'll expand on that a little later in this feature.
So far, we've seen that some characters look totally different across the Multiverse (Spider-Man), while others remain the same (Doctor Strange). It seems Jonah falls into the latter category.
5. The Amazing Spider-Man 2's Other Peter Parker
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opened in 2014 to mostly negative reviews and ended up being the end of that wall-crawler's franchise.
As was commonplace at the time, a tie-in video game was released which was actually pretty good fun. However, the developers didn't secure the likeness or voice of Andrew Garfield, meaning a generic doppelganger was used who makes an appearance in this movie when we learn about the Spider-Verse's canon events.
Of course, Garfield shows up courtesy of archival footage from The Amazing Spider-Man but never makes a full-blown cameo.
4. A Nod To Spider-Man 2's Doctor Octopus
The Spot proves to be a much deadlier villain than we or Miles give him credit for, and by the time all is said and done, he's become a threat to the entire Multiverse similar to What If...?'s Infinity Ultron.
After upgrading his powers, The Spot says, "I’ve got the power of the multiverse in the palm of my hand." Does the line ring a bell? Well, it should because it's a spin on what Doctor Octopus said in Spider-Man 2: "The power of the sun in the palm of my hand."
Alfred Molina's voice can actually be heard when Miles passes a silhouette of Doc Ock in the Spider-Society's headquarters, though we're pretty sure his "Hello, Peter" is recycled from the 2004 sequel.
3. The MCU Multiverse
When Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 shows Miles the Spider-Verse, it initially takes on the form of the MCU's Multiverse with all those branching timelines.
Sony Pictures can't have just taken it upon themselves to use that imagery, so something tells us Marvel Studios is actively acknowledging this animated franchise as part of its own Mutliversal plans. What that means for the future is obviously hard to say, but there are already rumours about live-action plans for these Spider-Verse characters.
Avengers: Secret Wars really can't get here soon enough...
2. Sinister Six Cartel
When Miles is left stranded on Earth-42, he's confronted by that reality's version of himself. This Miles is Prowler and, with no Spider-Man to protect the city, it's not in a good state.
It's during this scene we hear J. Jonah Jameson talk about the Sinister Six Cartel. It appears they're in control, and various signs around the Big Apple suggest Electro, The Vulture, Sandman, Scorpion, Doctor Octopus, and Rhino are all members of the evil team.
Whether we'll see them in action when Beyond the Spider-Verse rolls around is unclear, but we'd say it's likely.
1. Earth-199999
Spider-Man 2099 talking about Doctor Strange and that "nerdy kid" on Earth-199999 was featured heavily in Across the Spider-Verse's trailers, but it has a different place in the movie itself.
Miguel actually says the line during that opening battle with The Vulture, strongly hinting that the reason all those baddies are being scattered throughout the Multiverse is a direct result of the Sorcerer Supreme's botched spell. It would make sense, especially when they were pulled out of their own realities and into the MCU.
What's less clear is why Miguel calls that Earth-199999, especially when it's been identified as Earth-616!