Everyone’s favorite superhero, Miles Morales, is returning to theaters in 2027. While that release is still a ways off, here are recaps of the previous films before diving into the theories.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) follows Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales, a witty but uncertain student who has recently transferred to a private school that better fits his academic needs. Feeling isolated and disconnected from his old friends, Miles finds comfort in spending time with his uncle Aaron, with whom he bonds over creating street art. One night, Miles is bitten by a radioactive spider, and soon begins developing strange new abilities, such as sticking to walls and sensing danger before it happens. As he struggles to understand these powers, Miles discovers that he is not the only Spider-Person, and that multiple universes are colliding. Forced to step up despite his fear and self-doubt, Miles must learn what it truly means to be Spider-Man and embrace his own identity to help save the multiverse.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse follows Miles Morales again, as he continues adjusting to life as Spider-Man while balancing school, family, and friendships in Brooklyn. Although he has grown more confident in his powers, Miles still feels misunderstood and distant from the people closest to him, especially his father. When Gwen Stacy unexpectedly returns, she introduces Miles to the Spider Society, a group of Spider-People from different universes who work together to protect the multiverse. Their leader is Miguel, a version of Spider-Man from Earth-928. As Miles explores these new worlds, he learns that not everyone agrees on how to save them, especially when it comes to his own cannon event. Faced with impossible choices and growing conflict, Miles must decide whether to follow the rules set by others or trust himself to do what he believes is right.
Between the first two movies, YLHS student, Samantha Hernandez (11) says the first movie is her favorite because, “The soundtrack was phenomenal, and this was the first animated Spider-Man film to pair an incredible animation style with a storyline that truly delivered,” adding that she is super excited for the third movie to come out.”
On to the theories, five popular ones are trending online right now:
- The Spider-Society, who originally believed that Miles Morales was an anomaly who was never meant to be Spider-Man, will prove them wrong. He will create his own cannon event, save his father, and turn the Spider Society against Miguel O’Hara. YLHS student, Cienna Olsen (12) agrees with this, even adding that, “The reason why Miguel was so stressed about Miles being an anomaly was that he was trying to cover up the fact that Miguel is the original anomaly!”
- The alternate version of Miles Morales from Earth-42 (the Prowler that the audience sees at the end of the second movie) will become Miles Morales’ (Spider-Man) counterpart, and together they will save his father.
- After being kicked out of the Spider-Society, Gwen Stacy will form her own group of Spider-People that will directly oppose the rules and people of the Spider-Society and ultimately help Miles escape.
- Miguel O’Hara, who believes that disrupting a cannon event will destroy the universe, will be proven wrong. In Beyond the Spider-Verse, Miles will prove that canon events are flexible and that Miguel has been enforcing rules based on fear.
- Finally, last but not least, rather than ending with one big sacrifice like many Spider-Man movies do, Miles will choose someone to protect rather than sacrifice while saving his family and friends.
