Miles Morales and Friends Will Return in "Beyond the Spider-Verse": What to Know

Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker returned in this summer's "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." The movie is a stunning thrill ride, but when it reaches its conclusion, viewers realize that it doesn't wrap up everything in a nice bow. Instead, it leaves you with a bunch of cliffhangers.

If you keep watching through the end credits, you'll learn that the story will continue in "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse," but you might be left with some big questions — particularly, how long you'll have to wait for the next chapter! Here's what we know so far.

Way back in 2021, producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller confirmed that "Across the Spider-Verse" — the sequel to 2018's "Into the Spider-Verse" — would actually be split into two films. Originally, both were supposed to be released in 2023. As of June, "Beyond the Spider-Verse" was set to be released March 29, 2024. Like "Across the Spider-Verse," "Beyond" is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson.

In a June 7 interview with Rolling Stone, Lord and Miller gave an update on the movie. "We're far along. That said, you know, there's still a lot of work to do," Miller said.

Lord noted, "All we can do is keep working on things until we feel that they are great," with Miller adding, "The deadline is excellence." A Sony rep emphasized to the outlet, though, that the release date is still March 29.

However, on July 28, amid the writers and actors strikes, Sony announced that the sequel has been delayed indefinitely and is no longer on the release calendar.

It seems the entire "Across the Spider-Verse" voice cast will return for the sequel — plus, some faces from "Into the Spider-Verse" who are seen at the very end of the film. Shameik Moore voices Miles Morales, our man Spider-Man. Hailee Steinfeld voices Gwen Stacy, one of many characters who uses the moniker Spider-Woman. Oscar nominees Brian Tyree Henry voices Miles's dad, Jefferson Davis, and Luna Lauren Vélez voices his mom, Rio Morales. Jake Johnson is the slightly disheveled Peter B. Parker.

Other members of the cast include Oscar Isaac as the slightly sinister Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099; Issa Rae as Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, Karan Soni as Pavitr Prabhakar, aka Spider-Man India; Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya as Hobart "Hobie" Brown, aka Spider-Punk; and Jason Schwartzman as the villain known as the Spot.

And at the end of "Across the Spider-Verse," viewers see fan favorites from the first film that didn't have large roles in the sequel: John Mulaney's Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham; Kimiko Glenn's Peni Parker; and Nicolas Cage as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man Noir. It looks like they'll play a big part in the third Miles Morales animated film.

At the end of "Across the Spider-Verse," Miles has been trapped in an alternate universe (where things are really weird and there's a second Miles), and Gwen, Peter B. Parker, and their friends unite to try to rescue him. Meanwhile, Miguel O'Hara and Jessica Drew are on his tail because Miles's attempts to save his family might destroy the very fabric of the Spider-Verse. How it'll all shake out is still a mystery, though we have lots of theories for the sequel and how this complicated multiversal saga might wrap up.

The movie's creative team actually spilled a little bit of their plot inspiration in a recent interview. Talking to Empire magazine in October, producers Miller and Lord and director Dos Santos compared the movie to "The Parent Trap."

"There were some emotional touchstones resonating early on," Dos Santos explained of their decision to include the alternate universe Miles (via The Direct). "I think the take early on was way more of a 'Prince And The Pauper' take." He added that there were also some "Parent Trap" elements to the original story for "Across the Spider-Verse," and Miller added that those parts ended up being in "mostly the third movie." Does that mean the alternate universe Miles and our Miles will end up switching places? We'll have to wait and see.