"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is a 2018 animated superhero film centered around Miles Morales, who becomes Spider-Man and unites with Spider-People from different dimensions to combat Kingpin and save New York City. The movie, a collaboration between Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Marvel Entertainment, marks the first animated installment in the Spider-Man franchise and launches the Spider-Verse franchise.
1942: Motion Smearing Technique
To mimic the look of a comic book, the filmmakers used a traditional 2D animation technique called motion smearing, a technique notably used in the 1942 Looney Tunes short "The Dover Boys," to create a sense of movement and action.
1967: Jorma Taccone Voices 1967 Spider-Man
Jorma Taccone provided the voice for the Peter Parker / Spider-Man from the 1967 TV series.
1988: Anime and Manga Influences
The film's distinctive animation style drew inspiration from Japanese anime and manga, particularly the works of Hayao Miyazaki and the film "Akira" (1988), contributing to its unique visual appeal and storytelling approach.
1998: Inspiration for Doc Ock's characterization
The initial vision for Doctor Octopus's character was inspired by "The Big Lebowski" (1998), but later evolved into a female variant, Olivia Octavius, influenced by director Peter Ramsey's children's friendship with Kathryn Hahn, who voices the character.
2011: Rango Wins Best Animated Feature
Rango, released in 2011, was the last non-Disney/Pixar film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature before Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
2012: Rise of the Guardians Released
Rise of the Guardians, released in 2012, was a previous collaboration between Christina Steinberg and Peter Ramsey at DreamWorks Animation.
November 2014: Sony Hack Reveals Plans for Animated Spider-Man Film
Emails leaked in November 2014 revealed Sony's plans to develop an animated Spider-Man film with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
2014: Plans for Animated Spider-Man Film Leaked
In 2014, plans for an animated Spider-Man film by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were leaked.
2014: 22 Jump Street Released
Rodney Rothman, who co-wrote the screenplay for 22 Jump Street, which was released in 2014, joined Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse as a co-director.
January 2015: Discussion of Spider-Man Spin-Offs
A discussion regarding several Spider-Man spin-off films, including the animated project, was scheduled for a summit in January 2015.
April 2015: Animated Spider-Man Film Announced
Plans for an animated Spider-Man film by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were officially announced in April 2015.
April 2015: Animated Spider-Man Film Announced
Sony made the first official announcement of an animated Spider-Man film in April 2015, initially scheduled for release in July 2018.
June 2016: Phil Lord Completes Script, Bob Persichetti to Direct
By June 2016, Phil Lord had finished writing the script, and the studio selected Bob Persichetti to direct the film.
January 2017: First Look Revealed
In January 2017, a 30-second sizzle reel of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was shown, revealing the film's focus on Miles Morales and garnering positive responses for its unique visual style.
January 2017: Miles Morales Confirmed as Protagonist
Sony confirmed that the film would focus on the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man at a presentation for its upcoming animated films in January 2017.
April 2017: Shameik Moore and Liev Schreiber Cast
In April 2017, Shameik Moore and Liev Schreiber were cast as the voices for Miles Morales and Kingpin, respectively.
April 2017: Casting Announcements
In April 2017, Shameik Moore was cast as Miles Morales, and Liev Schreiber was cast in an unspecified villain role.
April 2017: Release Date Changed to December 14, 2018
The release date was moved up to December 14, 2018, in April 2017.
April 2018: Jake Johnson cast as Peter Parker
By April 2018, Jake Johnson had been cast as Peter Parker, intended as a mentor figure to Miles. The decision to not cast Tobey Maguire in this role was made to avoid confusing the audience with the "Spider-Verse" concept.
June 2018: Expanding the Spider-Verse
June 2018 saw confirmation of Liev Schreiber as Kingpin, alongside Hailee Steinfeld as Spider-Gwen, Luna Lauren Vélez as Miles's mother, and Lily Tomlin as Aunt May.
June 2018: Official Trailer Release
The release of the official trailer in June 2018 generated significant buzz online, praised for its stunning art style and focus on drama over action.
July 2018: Daniel Pemberton announced as composer
Daniel Pemberton was announced as the composer for the film in July 2018, curating a soundtrack designed to reflect the musical taste of a teenager like Miles Morales.
July 20, 2018: Animated Spider-Man Film Given Release Date
In April 2015, Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman announced a release date of July 20, 2018 for the animated Spider-Man film.
August 2018: Post-credit scene discussion and scrapped ideas
By August 2018, the directors were already considering ideas for a post-credit scene, reflecting the expectations set by other Marvel films. One idea involved cameos by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the three live-action Spider-Man actors, but Sony felt it would be too confusing for the audience. Another scrapped idea involved Miles becoming Spider-Man through an unusual audio commentary featuring James Cameron and Tom Cruise.
August 2018: Animation Challenges and Expansion
The animation team for the film faced challenges in meeting deadlines due to the unique and time-consuming animation style. By August 2018, the team had grown significantly, reaching 142 animators, highlighting the extensive work required to achieve the film's visual style.
October 2018: Animation Completion
Animation work on "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" concluded in October 2018, marking a significant milestone in the film's production.
October 2018: Second Trailer and New York Comic Con
In October 2018, a second trailer was released, followed by a presentation at New York Comic Con where the first 35 minutes of the film were shown.
November 2018: More Spider-People join the cast
In November 2018, Chris Pine was announced as the voice of Peter Parker from Miles' universe, and Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099, joining an already diverse cast of Spider-Man characters.
November 2018: Innovative Marketing Campaign
November 2018 marked the launch of the 'Spider-Verse Web AR Experience,' an augmented reality experience. A massive promotional campaign also rolled out, featuring unique collaborations with brands like McDonald's and Nike.
November 2018: Stan Lee's Death
Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, passed away in November 2018.
December 1, 2018: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Premieres
The film premiered at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles on December 1, 2018.
December 14, 2018: Release Date Changed to December 14, 2018
The film's release date was moved up one week from December 21, 2018, to December 14, 2018.
December 21, 2018: Release Date Changed to December 21, 2018
The release date for the Spider-Man animated film was shifted to December 21, 2018.
2018: Diverse Superhero Representation
The confirmation of Miles Morales as the protagonist in 2018 was seen as a significant step towards representing heroes of color in superhero films, alongside the release of Black Panther.
2018: Sony Announces Spider-Women Spin-Off Film
In 2018, Sony revealed plans for a spin-off animated film centered around Spider-Women characters from the comics, including Spider-Gwen, Jessica Drew, and Cindy Moon. Bek Smith was assigned as screenwriter, and Lauren Montgomery was considered as director.
2018: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Released
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, an animated superhero film featuring Miles Morales, was released in 2018. It was produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation in association with Marvel Entertainment, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
January 2019: Release of "To the End"
Elliphant's song "To the End," used as Spider-Woman's introduction music, was released as a single in January 2019, a month after the film's release.
February 26, 2019: Digital and Home Media Release
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was released digitally on February 26, 2019, with physical copies following in March. An extended cut and a Spider-Ham short film were included as bonus content.
April 10, 2019: International 3D Blu-ray Release
On April 10, 2019, a Blu-ray 3D version of the film was released in several regions worldwide, excluding the United States and the United Kingdom.
April 2019: Lord and Miller Sign Five-Year Deal with Sony for Animated Marvel TV Series
In April 2019, Lord and Miller inked a five-year deal with Sony Pictures Television to develop animated Marvel TV series alongside Sony Pictures Animation. The deal included the potential for a series based on "Into the Spider-Verse."
August 2019: Miller Teases Multiple Live-Action "Spider-Verse" Series
Miller offered a glimpse into the developing series in August 2019, stating that multiple live-action series were in the works, each promising a unique experience while maintaining a connection to the shared "Spider-Verse."
2019: Television Premiere and Viewership Success
The film's television premiere on Sky Cinema Premiere in 2019 drew a significant viewership, becoming one of the most-watched films on pay TV channels that year.
April 2021: Lord and Miller Confirmed as Producers, Rewrites Underway
In April 2021, Lord and Miller were officially announced as producers for the Spider-Women film, with the project undergoing script rewrites at that time.
December 2021: Into the Spider-Verse Screenplay Recognized Among Greatest of 21st Century
In December 2021, the screenplay for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was included on the Writers Guild of America's list of the "101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (So Far)", ranking at number seventy-one.
September 9, 2022: Into the Spider-Verse Expands Disney+ Availability
On September 9, 2022, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse expanded its availability on Disney+ to include Latin America and Europe.
May 2023: Film Confirmed in Development, Expected Sooner Than Anticipated
By May 2023, Pascal and Arad confirmed the film was actively in development, with Arad stating its release would be sooner than expected. Steinfeld also expressed interest in the project.
June 2, 2023: Across the Spider-Verse Released
On June 2, 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, was released in theaters after being delayed twice from its original 2022 release date.
2023: Ganke Lee Voiced by Peter Sohn
Peter Sohn voiced Ganke Lee in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, released in 2023.
2023: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Released
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, was released in 2023.
2099: Miguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099 Introduced
Miguel O'Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099, was introduced in the year 2099.
2099: Oscar Isaac Voices Spider-Man 2099
Oscar Isaac voiced Miguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099, a character from the Marvel 2099 imprint.
2099: Introduction of Spider-Man 2099
The inclusion of Spider-Man 2099 hints at a futuristic setting and expands the scope of the Spider-Verse within the film.