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Summary
WillSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseever see the light of day? At least not in the near future. The Sony Pictures Animation film is stuck in apparent production limbo without a confirmed release date, and fans are wondering when they might get their long-awaited conclusion.
Beyond the Spider-Verseis one of the most anticipated upcoming movies, as it marks the third and final installment in the franchise. The second film,Across the Spider-Verse, was released in 2023, five years after the first film,Into the Spider-Verse. As things stand, it looks like this 4–5 year gap might repeat, leaving many fans disappointed about having to wait so long. However, this long wait could be a blessing in disguise.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-VerseDelayed Indefinitely
Film’s Progress Remains Unclear Despite Denials
Sony originally planned to releaseSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseon July 03, 2025. However, in July 2023, the release date was removed. At the time, the likely reason was the SAG-AFTRA strike. But now that the industry is back in full swing, the thirdSpider-Versefilm seems further away than ever. In fact, there have been reports that Sony scrapped most of the movie for creative reasons — claims that the film’s producer, Chris Miller, refuted on X:
While Miller denied all reports of content being removed, there is still no clarity on the film’s release plans. Recent comments on the movie’s progress from Jharrel Jerome, the voice actor forMiles G. Morales (a.k.a. the Prowler), haven’t been reassuring either. Last week, Jerome confirmed thatBeyond the Spider-Versehas yet to begin the voice recording process, which clearly implies there’s still a lot of work left to do.
Even if the film wraps up on time, 2026 already hasthe MCU’sSpider-Man 4scheduled, and that release is unlikely to change. This means the wait forBeyond the Spider-Versewill likely continue, but that could actually benefit the film in more ways than one might imagine.
Spider-VerseDelay Could Benefit the Film
Superhero fatiguemay not be real, but the oversaturation of content certainly is. Major studios worldwide have been pushing movies and TV shows through the pipeline so fast that many end up feeling lifeless and overly computer-generated. Animation and VFX-driven films have been the primary victims of this issue. Only a few exceptions, like theSpider-Versemovies, have managed to stand out. In fact, bothInto the Spider-VerseandAcross the Spider-Verse’sart styleshave been instrumental in showcasing how vital visual artists are in today’s industry.
With this in mind, it’s only right that theBeyond the Spider-Verseteam gets the time they need to craft a film for the ages. Moreover, aVulturereport from June 2023claimed that the team behindAcross the Spider-Versefaced severe and unsustainable working conditions to ensure the film’s success. While the producers have denied these reports, it still wasn’t a good look for Sony. Hopefully, this long wait forBeyond the Spider-Versemeans better working conditions for its artists.
Beyond the Spider-VerseMust Deliver a Strong Finale
Split Production Ensures Quality Over Rushed Sequels
Moreover,Beyond the Spider-Versemust serve as a fitting finale to the first two films. Just before the release ofInto the Spider-Versein 2018, a sequel was already in the works. However, it was split into two parts because there was more story to tell and more characters to develop. Officially,Beyond the Spider-Versehas been in development alongside the early work onAcross the Spider-Verse. However, the third film’s production was pushed to the later stages as the sequel’s script and animation took priority.
This creative decision from the producers is a welcome change in the production process. It’s good that the studio didn’t try to cram what was originally meant to be two separate films into a single stretch of production. The resources and logistics involved in animation are vastly different from those of live-action filmmaking. So, trying to replicate a two-part cinematic event likethe MCU’sInfinity WarandEndgamedoesn’t translate to theSpider-Versescenario at hand.
Learning From Past Threequel Mistakes
Picking Up FromAcross The Spider-Verse’sEnding
Across the Spider-Verseended on a cliffhanger, with Miles Morales stuck in the alternate universe of Earth-42. The writers ofBeyond the Spider-Versewill need to find exciting ways to set up a climactic event like no other. And the ending doesn’t just need to be a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy; it must also strike an emotional chord with the audience. Interestingly, the Prowler’s appearance on Earth-42 was a very late addition to the script. The current delay could provide the time needed to develop better plot points and more satisfying character endings.
Spider-Verse Composer DrawsGodfather 3Parallel
Music composer Daniel Pemberton, who worked on all threeSpider-Versefilms, opened up about the pressure of concluding such a fan-favorite trilogy. Speaking toGamesRadar+in June 2024, Pemberton discussed how the team needs to avoid the mistakes of past threequels. He compared it to howThe Godfather Part IIIturned out to be an underwhelming finale forthe first twoGodfatherfilms, both of which are legendary in their own right.
I think the main thing for everyone is we are so proud of what we have done on these movies and you want a classic trilogy, you don’t want to let it down, you don’t want to Godfather it. We are feeling added pressure - in capital letters, underlined, with a big exclamation mark at the end.
The delay benefitsBeyond the Spider-Versetechnicians like Pemberton, giving them more time to work on details and creative elements that can enrich the film. After all, bothSpider-Versefilms were celebrated for how cleverly they incorporated clues and Easter eggs from various Spider-Man properties, includingcomic books, past movies,and TV shows. Furthermore,Beyond the Spider-Verseis a huge opportunity for the creators to potentially set up future projects, such as spin-offs featuring some of its offbeat characters.
