Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has received a disappointing release update, with the film now not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
The much-anticipated sequel would complete a trilogy that began with 2018’s acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and continued with 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
The third instalment was initially slated to be released on March 29, 2024.
However, the film was abruptly removed from Sony’s release schedule before that date came and went. Deadline now reports that Sony has no plans to release the film as part of their 2025 release calendar.
Reports from Vulture had suggested that production had halted due to conflicts with finishing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Work on the film was further delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which prevented voice actors from recording their dialogue.
According to reports by reputable film insider Jeff Sneider, the film was then mostly scrapped and he predicted a new version would be unlikely to be released for the next two to three years. Sneider suggested that Sony had discarded most of the movie for “creative reasons” and said that the team behind it were “relieved” by the decision.
Composer Pemberton cast doubt on the veracity of those reports, saying: “Don’t really ever want to weigh in on this sort of stuff BUT would you ever believe there could sometimes be stuff on the internet that might not always be particularly accurate? Hmmmm…”
His comments came amid a backdrop of conflicts between Sony and Spider-Verse creators Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The pair had reportedly “endured a heated fight” over the budget for the spin-off series Spider-Noir, which led to the project not being renewed.
The two existing films have received critical acclaim including an Oscar nomination for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in the Best Animated Feature category.
In a four-star review for The Independent, critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote: “Across the Spider-Verse, much like its predecessor, treats its multiverse premise as a genuine creative challenge. There are cameos, gags, and visual references that draw from every corner and era of Spidey culture.
“It sprints right up the border of visual overload but never crosses it, thanks to a lightness of touch applied by its trio of directors, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K Thompson, and its writers, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and David Callaham. This is, dare I say it, how fan service should be done. It’s far easier to overlook the usual nostalgic pandering when it’s taken a backseat to genuine creativity.”
