Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’s delay could make it so two upcoming Spider-Man movies find a unique release window. The animated Spider-Verse franchise has been thriving since 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. When I first watched the Sony/Marvelfilm, I was completely taken aback, as I couldn’t imagine that it would turn out to be such a massive endeavor, quickly becoming one of thebest Spider-Man moviesever, beating many of the live-action entries. With gorgeous animation, charismatic characters, a compelling story, outstanding action, and more,The first Spider-Verse movie showed that the franchise was here to stay.
I was glad to see that 2023’sSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versemanaged to somehow be even better than its predecessor. Instead of being visited in his universe by other versions of Spider-Man, the sequel followed Miles Morales on a multiverse-wide adventure, introducing the Spider-Society, Canon Events, the Spot, and many more. The movie felt like a more mature adventure for the older Miles, andSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s endingwas the perfect cliffhanger, setting up the threequel. I was disappointed to hear about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’s delay initially, but now I can see how it could be interesting.
Two Spider-Man Movies Have Never Been Released In The Same Year
Beyond The Spider-Verse’s Delay Could Help Break The Spider-Man Record
There have been 10 Spider-Man movies between live-action entries and the animated Spider-Verse films since Tobey Maguire started the hero’s modern era in theaters in 2002. This does not include the films released in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. The reason for that is simple, as the SSU uses Spider-Man-related characters like Venom and Kraven the Hunter for its films, but despite the franchise’s name,the SSU still has to debut its version of Spider-Man. As such, two Spider-Man movies have never been released in the same year, including the films led by Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and the Spider-Verse franchise.
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Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
2023
During the Maguire and Garfield eras, no other cinematic Spider-Man was going on simultaneously.Holland’s Spider-Man moviesin the MCU have been released in the same period that the animated Spider-Verse franchise took off, but interestingly, the two franchises have never released a film in the same year. The MCU released Holland’s first and second Spider-Man movies a year before and a year after 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, while2023’sSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versecame two years afterSpider-Man: No Way Homeunited Holland, Garfield, and Maguire’s versions of Peter Parker for the first time in the MCU.
I Hope Beyond The Spider-Verse Is Not Delayed Because Of The MCU’s Spider-Man 4
Tom Holland Is Coming Back As Peter Parker
While two Spider-Man movies have never been released in the same year, I am hoping that can change. At the moment,no announcement has been made regardingSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’s new release date. Due to that, I’m starting to fear that the film will take longer to come out than just a year. However, if the animated trilogy’s finale does not come out in 2025, I think there is a chance that Sony might choose to delay it even further, ending up with a 2027 spot. The reason for that would be the MCU’s Spider-Man plans.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 Already Has The Perfect Ned & MJ Replacements
After No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 has the perfect setup to replace MJ and Ned, and there are two ideal characters to fill their roles.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is incredibly popular, and with Chris Evans' Captain America and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man out of the MCU, Peter Parker should play a large role in the upcoming Avengers movies. Beyond the two team entries, Holland will be back as Peter for theMCU’sSpider-Man 4. While the film currently has no release date, some recent reports make a 2026 release likely. A recent report revealed thatSpider-Man 4’s director isShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Destin Daniel Cretton.The MCU movie is aiming to start filming in early 2025.
IfSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versedoes not end up releasing next year, Sony would have to release two Spider-Man movies in the same year for the first time in history.
Based on that filming timeline, there is no way forSpider-Man 4to be released in 2025, making a 2026 slot the most likely. IfSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versedoes not end up releasing next year, Sony would have to release two Spider-Man movies in the same year for the first time in history. At the latest, I hope that the studio decides to break the Spider-Man movie record, perhaps withHolland’sSpider-Man 4coming in July after Marvel abandoned a date that Sony could scoop up, andBeyond the Spider-Versein the Christmas window, rather than delaying to 2027.
My Ideal Scenario For The Spider-Verse Finale Would Still Be A Release Before Then
The Wait For The Spider-Verse’s Conclusion Would Be Too Long
I hope that the two Spider-Man movies being released in the same year is the latest the studio could releaseSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. However, even a 2026 release date would already be too long for me. Sony originally announced that the Spider-Verse trilogy would come to an end with the release ofthe final movie in the franchise on July 03, 2025. Even if Sony broke the Spider-Man movie record, it would mean that two years would have passed since the Spider-Verse’s finale was meant to have been released, which I think is too long of a delay.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has been delayed indefinitely.
Thankfully, there have been some teases that increased the chances ofSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versebeing released in 2025. Singer d4vd teased that he could be featured in the movie, saying, “I got news for you buddy. Beyond the Spider-Verse. That’s all I‘m gonna say.” Later, the musicianteased thatSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versecould be released in 2025, saying, “See you next year when spiderman comes out.” Aftera report stated that the movie would be delayed until 2027 at the earliest,Spider-Verse franchise producer Christopher Miller shared an update, saying that the “reels are coming along nicely.”
The Spider-Man Movie Record Being Broken Is Great For Miles Morales' Live-Action Debut
Miles Morales Will Inevitably Come To Live-Action
Another reason I want to see the Spider-Man movie record finally be broken is related to Miles Morales' live-action debut. While I would gladly watch another dozen animated Spider-Man movies with Miles as the lead, I also want to see him interact with characters in the MCU the same way Holland’s Peter Parker has orbecome the Spider-Man the SSU desperately needs. That will not happen until Holland’sSpider-Man 4and the animatedSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verseare out of the way.
In February 2023, Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal spoke toVarietyabout a live-action Miles Morales movie. According to her, Miles' live-action debut will eventually happen, butonly after Holland’sSpider-Man 4andSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. If Sony were to break the Spider-Man movie record and release the two films in the same year, then Miles could come to live-action faster, which I would love to see. I remain hopeful aboutSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Versecoming to theaters next year, but if a 2025 release does not happen, the Spider-Man movie record will hopefully be broken in 2026.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Cast
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is the direct continuation of 2023’s Across the Spider-Verse, and is the third film in the Miles Morales animated Spider-Man franchise.
Spider-Man 4
Spider-Man 4 is the first sequel to the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as the titular wall-crawler. After wiping his identity for the public’s memory in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker continues his crime-fighting adventures without the aid of Iron Man technology or the support of his former allies.
