Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opened in theaters this week, so actor/comedian John Mulaney stopped by
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk about the animated film and his role in it.
In the film, Mulaney plays Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham, which he says the directors initially described to him as a "pig who makes nonstop outdated jokes."
Mulaney went on to explain how he was pitched the role in
Into the Spider-Verse. Explaining that these superhero movies tend to be kept under wraps, he likened the secrecy in which the role was explained to him to "how a lot of kidnappings begin."
Mulaney also explained the process in which he recorded his lines for the movie.
"It is wonderfully scripted, but they did a thing that is very generous when they say to comedy people. They say, 'Have fun with it and, you know, add your own words. And so. for the very first session - I'm still in flight or fight 'cause I think it's a kidnapping - I did go my own way with it, and I threw in my own lines, and what happened was I was just cursing wildly."
Thankfully, some of Mulaney's initial outtakes were recorded and shared during the interview, which you can watch in full below (the outtakes start at 5:38).
Meanwhile, over on Marvel.com, all three directors - Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, and Bob Persichetti - discussed what it was like working with John Mulaney as Spider-Ham on
Into the Spider-Verse.
Rodney Rothman: I had known him for a while. He just seemed like perfect casting for Spider-Ham. Also, greedily, we knew how Mulaney isn’t just a crazy funny interesting person but he has a brilliant writer’s brain. You know when you hire someone like that, you know in [voice] records, this guy’s going to be riffing out stuff that’s better than anything.
Peter Ramsey: I recorded him remotely, and he started going and I was just reduced to tears through the whole thing. I barely said anything. We just turned on the switch and it was astonishing. That guy deserves everything.
Bob Persichetti: The first time we recorded him, I was like, “Oh, wow, this was the right choice!”
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is now playing in theaters.