Did You Hear? is a weekly examination of headlines in the entertainment industry and a take on what they could mean for the future of the industry and (often), the little geeky bubble that we occupy!
Into the Spider-Verse 2 Pushed Back
The Sony sequel to breakout animated movie Into the Spider-Verse was slated for release later this year. On Wednesday of this week Variety reported Across the Spider-Verse has been pushed back to June 2023. Needless to say, fans were devastated – yours truly included.
In an update to their theatrical release Sony stated:
Sony Pictures has updated its upcoming theatrical release calendar, dating its Marvel Comics adaptation “Madame Web,” officially revealing a new entry in Denzel Washington’s “The Equalizer” series and delaying the release of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” to 2023.
While no additional reason has been given for why Across the Spider-Verse was pushed back I would hazard this is a fairly typical part of the animation process. Stories have been coming out from major studios (Pixar, Disney), – even Sony during the press tour for Spider-Verse – about the sheer number of times almost the entire movie had to be reanimated or add storylines/scenes/characters in order to flush out the film in a more satisfying way.
For fans of the greatest superhero movie ever made this is certainly a frustrating development. However, I’m choosing to deal with it by accepting that Sony is making sure we get the best continuation of Miles Morales’ on-screen story as possible.
Also Per Variety:
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part II,” the already announced threequel in the “Spider-Verse” series, has also been given an official release date of March 29, 2024.
… so at least we know we are getting even more Miles than ever before!
Madame Web Eyes 2023 Release Too
In the same Sony announcement we have learned even more about the upcoming Madame Web movie. We reported on Madame Web back in February when actor Dakota Johnson was cast in the titular role. She is joined by Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney in a yet unnamed role.
My vote would be for Sweeney to play Felicia Hardy a.k.a. Black Cat.
“Madame Web,” a new entry in the studio’s self-branded Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, is now slated to hit theaters on July 7, 2023, positioned in the middle of next year’s summer season. The origin story stars Dakota Johnson as the title character, a clairvoyant with abilities to see into the spider world. Sydney Sweeney also stars, while S.J. Clarkson will direct a script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.
… reported Variety.
This places Across the Spider-Verse and Madame Web within spitting distance of each other sitting a mere one month apart. Sony is banking on 2023 being the Summer of the Sony Spider-Verse.
Wonder Twins Powers Have Been Cast
Last week we learned from The Hollywood Reporter that Warner Bros is going forward with a Wonder Twins
series for their upcoming HBO Max movie. For half the duo they haven’t strayed too far from home casting Riverdale star K.J. Apa alongside 1883 star Isabel May.
In DC lore, The Wonder Twins are a pair of alien siblings named Zan and Jayna introduced in Hanna-Barbera’s 1970s The All-New Super Friends Hour, where they were the young companions to older heroes such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. They then made their way to the Super Friends comic book, and eventually were incorporated into DC’s larger universe. They are known for their catchphrase: “Wonder Twin power, activate!” with Jayna having the power to transform into animals and Zan turning into water. In the age of the Internet, they have been the butt of numerous memes and jokes.
… THR lets us know.
Apa and May join writer/director – and Black Adam scribe – Adam Sztykiel.
No word yet on whether or not Wonder Twins exist in the same universe as the upcoming Batgirl and Supergirl standalone movies or even if they tie into HBO Max’s debut superhero show: Titans.
