What's going on with the Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse release date now?

Reporter Jeff Sneider declared in a "scoop" on his website that Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse that this animated sequel would be delayed to 2027. A key reason for this was to make room for a new live-action Spider-Man film anchored by Tom Holland set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Per Sneider, Sony didn't want two Spider-Man features opening in the same year. Sneider also claimed that Beyond the Spider-Verse was going through a massive overhaul, with folks behind the scenes like animators feeling grateful for further time to realize this sequel.

Quickly, the report was debunked by folks close to Beyond the Spider-Verse. Composer Daniel Pemberton first retweeted this news and commented that it was deeply inaccurate. Producer Chris Miller later released a statement to Twitter declaring "Nothing has been scrapped. The reels are coming along nicely." So what's going on here? Is Beyond the Spider-Verse in trouble or what?

Originally, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse would've hit theaters on March 29, 2024. The feature was removed from Sony's release slate in late summer 2023 in response to the strikes. The lack of an ensuing concrete date for the project was also likely in response to the constant new dates given to its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Originally set for April 2022, COVID-19 and production changes led to this sequel eventually settling on a June 2023 date. These Spider-Verse movies work on their own timetable and this third movie is no exception. Also, there are now the infamous allegations of horrible workplace conditions that Across the Spider-Verse animators experienced. Being flexible on a release date could be a maneuver to prevent those conditions from occuring.

As for comments reflecting the status of Beyond the Spider-Verse, that's deeply complicated. Animated movies are made behind closed doors, away from the public. You don't get snapshots of the latest Pixar or Cartoon Saloon title shooting in New York, a confirmation principal photography is underway. These are projects made in a gradual fashion away from the publics gaze. Karan Soni, voice of Pavitr Prabhakar, confirmed last month that he'd begin voice work for his character very soon and "that movie is deep in production." In an interview promoting Across the Spider-Verse, Phil Lord and Chris Miller observed that David Callaham's greatest screenwriting contributions to these sequels would be seen in Beyond the Spider-Verse, an indication that a script existed for the feature circa. summer 2023. The duo also noted last summer that they would not be cornered into rushing Beyond the Spider-Verse into a pre-determined release date.

And so, there's no real news to share. Across the Spider-Verse made such a gargantuan pile of money at the box office that it can really come out any time of the year and become a big hit. Perhaps that's also why Sony/Columbia Pictures isn't rushing to stake out a release date. This isn't a case where a blockbuster would only do well opening, say, the weekend before Halloween. Wherever Beyond the Spider-Verse goes, the marketplace will adjust accordingly. Other movies, especially further animated family titles, will get out of the way. No need to box in the creative team into a suffocatingly cramped date.

Returning to the original report that Spider-Verse was getting delayed to 2027 to make room for a fourth Tom Holland Spidey movie...that makes minimal sense to me. Sony has released animated and live-action Spider-Man movies within a single 12-month period before. Why would they care now? Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Far From Home opened six-and-a-half months apart. Across the Spider-Verse was initially set to open nine-and-a-half months after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Historical precedent suggests fretting over cramming two of these titles into a single 12-month period isn't weighing heavily on Sony's mind.

These details really suggest this whole recent internet kerfuffle over potential Beyond the Spider-Verse production problems isn't worth getting fussed up over. The film will arrive when it arrives and hopefully, it lives up to the quality of its magnificent predecessors. Until then, let's all spend our time on more constructive matters, like working to create a community investment fund, help out local unions, or donate to help families in Gaza. Remember, "anyone can wear the mask", as a wise Miles Morales once said, and that means anyone can make a positive difference in the world.