Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a leap of faith for Sony, but it has seemingly paid off in spades. The Miles Morales-centered animated epic blew audiences away back in 2018, enough to so to warrant two sequels. The first Spider-Verse follow-up, Across the Spider-Verse, hits theaters next summer and, instead of the Kingpin, Miles and co will go up against the villain The Spot this time.
The Spot was recently announced to feature heavily in the film with Hollywood veteran Jason Schwartzman playing the big bad. The character is one of Spidey’s lesser-known antagonists, possessing the ability to create inter-dimensional portals akin to ink splotches. In the comics, Spot starts as Dr. Jonathan Ohnn, an MIT scientist who works for Kingpin, but after an experiment gone wrong, he becomes the polka-dot-covered supervillain.
While it is unknown how the character will play into the massive plot of Across the Spider-Verse, the directing team behind the film have hinted at what makes The Spot so special.
About The Spot
In an interview with CartoonBrew.com, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse directing trio Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin Thompson, and Kemp Powers commented on what makes the film’s villain, The Spot, a perfect match for the sequel.
Dos Santos said that Spot works as “an awesome sort of opposite to Miles,” making mention that a movie’s hero is only as strong as its “awesome villain.”
When The Spot was revealed to be the main antagonist in Across the Spider-Verse some fans showed a little apprehension. The character does not have the name recognition that someone like the Green Goblin, Vulture (who will also appear in the film), or even Kingpin has. However, listening to the film’s directors talking about the villain, it feels like it couldn’t be anyone else.
It is not just about telling an incredible story, featuring some big names, with these filmmakers. They are actually aiming to actually push the animated medium forward. And from the sound of things, that is exactly what they are going to do.
While, as of now, the general moviegoing public has yet to see The Spot in motion, it feels like only a matter of time before a first glimpse is made public. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swings into theaters on June 2, 2023.