Behind the Scenes: Sony's Last-Minute Overhaul Transforms the Epic Ending of Across The Spider-Verse

Summary

The filmmakers behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse made a last-minute decision to alter the film's ending, just six weeks prior to its release. Their aim was to provide the audience with a renewed sense of hope, as the main character, Miles Morales, found himself trapped in an alternate dimension.

A more exciting and tension-filled ending was incorporated into the film to address the original ending's lackluster impact. This new ending not only includes a climax but also sets up a cliffhanger, laying the foundation for the sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse.

By introducing Gwen Stacy's superhero team and the villainous Spot in the film's final moments, anticipation for the upcoming sequel is heightened. Furthermore, this inclusion hints at the potential destruction and chaos that may ensue within the multiverse.

The creators of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse recently disclosed that they made significant changes to the ending of Sony's 2023 animated film just six weeks before its theatrical debut. This sequel to the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which premiered in June 2023, brought back beloved characters like Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker, while also introducing new Spider-People to Sony's franchise. The production process for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse involved a major overhaul, resulting in the film being split into two parts. The second part, titled Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, does not currently have a release date. This division led to several modifications being made to the ending of Across the Spider-Verse. In an interview with Empire Magazine, the writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, as well as the directing trio Kemp Powers, Joaquim Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson, shared additional insights into the film's production. Miller mentioned that the ending was altered to provide audiences with a glimmer of hope that assistance was forthcoming, as Miles Morales found himself trapped in a different dimension. Thompson confirmed that the ending of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was changed just six weeks prior to the movie's scheduled release, and he revealed that the final moments would now feature Gwen Stacy's superhero team and the antagonist known as the Spot.

I had concerns about the ending until around six weeks prior to completing the film, but then we made a crucial addition. The ending of the movie lacked impact and was quite disappointing. Fortunately, during a screening, we came up with a strategy to reunite all the characters, including Spot who was initially absent, and showcase Rio and Jeff, as well as give closure to the other characters. It was a fantastic sight to witness the reunion of the original group. Now is the perfect moment to reintroduce them in the film.

Why Across The Spider-Verse's Ending Changes Were For The Best

Miles Morales found himself trapped on Earth-42 in the concluding scenes of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. His attempt to escape from the Spider Society back to his original reality of Earth-1610 had gone awry. In an unexpected turn of events, Miles was captured by his alternate self, Prowler, who goes by the name Miles G. Morales. Meanwhile, Gwen Stacy, also known as Spider-Woman, set out on a journey to Earth-42 to consult with Morales' parents, Rio and Jeff Morales. Upon learning about Miles' predicament, Gwen assembled a team of Spider-People from different universes, all while the dangerous villain known as Spot reached his full potential and started wreaking havoc across the multiverse. Despite being added just six weeks before the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, this ending turned out to be a perfect setup for Sony's future animated installment.

Thompson believed that the original ending of Across the Spider-Verse lacked impact. Thus, by introducing a new, fast-paced conclusion, the movie, scheduled for release in 2023, was able to increase tension and significance, delivering another climactic moment along with a cliffhanger ending. The fact that Gwen Stacy managed to unite a group of familiar Spider-People created a wave of anticipation for the upcoming sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse. Additionally, the Spot's assault on the multiverse hinted at the impending disaster that awaits. While some viewers criticized the cliffhanger ending of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it cannot be denied that it effectively raised the stakes for the planned follow-up film.

Source: Empire Magazine