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’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. When I first watched the Sony/Marvel film, 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 the best Spider-Man movies ever, 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’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse managed 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, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s ending was 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.
Spider-Man Movies | Release Year |
|---|---|
Spider-Man | 2002 |
Spider-Man 2 | 2004 |
Spider-Man 3 | 2007 |
The Amazing Spider-Man | 2012 |
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | 2014 |
Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 |
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse | 2018 |
Spider-Man: Far From Home | 2019 |
Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 |
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 movies in 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’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, while 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse came two years after Spider-Man: No Way Home united 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 regarding Spider-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 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 the MCU’s Spider-Man 4. While the film currently has no release date, some recent reports make a 2026 release likely. A recent report revealed that Spider-Man 4‘s director is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ Destin Daniel Cretton. The MCU movie is aiming to start filming in early 2025.
If
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
does 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 for Spider-Man 4 to be released in 2025, making a 2026 slot the most likely. If Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse does 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 with Holland’s Spider-Man 4 coming in July after Marvel abandoned a date that Sony could scoop up, and Beyond the Spider-Verse in 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 release Spider-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 of the final movie in the franchise on March 29, 2024. 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 of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse being 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 musician teased that Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse could be released in 2025, saying, “See you next year when spiderman comes out.” After a 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 or become the Spider-Man the SSU desperately needs. That will not happen until Holland’s Spider-Man 4 and the animated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse are out of the way.
In February 2023, Spider-Man franchise producer Amy Pascal spoke to Variety about a live-action Miles Morales movie. According to her, Miles’ live-action debut will eventually happen, but only after Holland’s Spider-Man 4 and Spider-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 about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse coming to theaters next year, but if a 2025 release does not happen, the Spider-Man movie record will hopefully be broken in 2026.
