Last night, we got the disappointing news that the first Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse movie has been pushed back by almost 8 months, and will now swing into theaters on June 2, 2023, with Part 2 arriving on March 29, 2024.
Madame Web was also given an official release date of July 7, 2023, which means Sony Pictures will have three Spidey-related films opening next year.
There was speculation that such a significant delay might have something to do with Morbius' lacklustre performance at the box office, and while the studio will most likely rethink its strategy when it comes to The Living Vampire and how he factors into future SPUMC movies, execs would have no reason to lose confidence in the massively successful Spider-Verse.
Producer/writer Christopher Miller sent out the following Tweet in response to the delay, suggesting that it's simply a case of needing a bit more time to complete the animated sequel(s).
Specific plot details are still under wraps, but the follow-up has been confirmed to feature multiple new incarnations of the wall-crawling hero. Peter B. Parker, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man Noir, and SP//dr are expected to return, and the villain is rumored to be Johnathon Ohnn, AKA Spot. Insecure star Issa Rae will play Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman.
Joaquim Dos Santos (Voltron: Legendary Defender; The Legend of Korra), Kemp Powers (Soul), and Justin K. Thompson will direct. Miller and Phil Lord penned the script along with David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). Lord and Miller will also produce with Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Christina Steinberg.