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!
Father’s Day 2027 = New Spider-Verse
Marvel fans have been waiting for our return to The Spider-Verse from the minute Miles Morales, our sunflower, first won over hearts and minds with 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse. On Wednesday Sony Animation very quietly announced a change to the the release date of the third installment, Beyond the Spider-Verse.
The Hollywood Reporter shared the sparse details Sony blessed us with:
Sony revealed the animated feature will arrive a week earlier than expected, and land on June 18, 2027 in Imax and premium formats. Notably, that new date will cover the Juneteenth holiday as well as Father’s Day. It previously was dated for June 25, 2027.
Both The Hollywood Reporter and eagle-eyed fans noted this positions Beyond the Spider-Verse squarely to hit Father’s Day 2027. Perhaps there is a strong note of fatherly affection present in Beyond the Spider-Verse the creators want to take advantage of? Brian Tyree Henry’s portrayal of Jefferson Davis is one of the breakout performances of the franchise – and my personal favourite character. I would love if there’s a strong dad storyline present.
This holiday weekend dovetailing with Juneteenth means lots of families will have a long weekend. Long weekends tend to do well not only for films, but for four quadrants film, specifically.
TL;DR “four quadrant” means movie which can work for the entire family. 8 years old – 80 years old. For years Pixar films dominated this demographic.
Alternately, Sony Animation may have blinked in the face of competition releasing around the same time. A quick glance forward into June 2027 reveals the following:
- June 11 – How to Train Your Dragon 2 (live action)
- June 15 – Gatto (Pixar animation)
- June 30 – Shrek 5
June 2027 is stacked on the animation front and on the four quadrant movie front. My best guess is they blinked at Shrek 5. While I admit I am wholly surprised to be getting this sequel so many years later, Shrek is beloved. It holds tremendous currency in the nostalgia camp.
The Hollywood Reporter does point out that Beyond the Spider-Verse is the most highly anticipated upcoming release from Sony Animation and I would take it a step further. Particularly in the circles which Spoilerites run in I would hazard Beyond the Spider-Verse is one of the most highly anticipated comic book movies, animated movies, and genre movies. Period. It is a cultural sensation. While I can’t guess at Gatto’s potential presentation as a challenger, I would hazard How to Train Your Dragon 2 isn’t going to stand very much in the way of Beyond the Spider-Verse’s success.
Beyond the Spider-Verse was initially slated for a March 29, 2024 release date. What a world that must be! Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and David Callaham are writing, Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson are directing, and cast members include: Shameik Moore (as at least two versions of Miles Morales), Hailee Steinfeld, and Daniel Kaluuya (both of whom also play live action roles in The Marvel Cinematic Universe).
