Whoever succeeds the Kingpin as the main villain of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has some big shoes to fill. But it looks like the filmmakers chose an adversary whose own superhuman abilities threaten the stability of the multiverse itself. During the first day of this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson screened new footage from the highly-anticipated sequel. They also confirmed that the film will mark the big-screen debut of The Spot, voiced by Jason Schwartzman.
The Spot made his first appearance in The Spectacular Spider-Man #98 in 1985. He began as scientist Johnathan Ohnn, hired by the Kingpin to re-create Cloak’s teleportation powers. While entering a portal of his own creation, Ohnn’s body transformed. It fused with a number of smaller portals that he could use to travel long distances, and even reach alternate dimensions.
Of course, Ohnn’s powers also make him difficult to engage in combat, as demonstrated by an early image of the character in the sequel. The photo shows Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) trying to land a kick to villain’s chest. Unfortunately, this plan backfires, and thanks to one of The Spot’s portals, the blow instead hits Miles’ partner and love interest, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld). You can check it out for yourself below.
Meet The Spot, Miles Morales’s most formidable foe yet. Voiced by Jason Schwartzman, see him in action in Spider-Man: Across the #SpiderVerse, exclusively in movie theaters June 2, 2023. pic.twitter.com/1aAmMjMcpX
— Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (@SpiderVerse) June 13, 2022
RELATED: Sony’s Spider-Verse 3 Is Now Called Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
During the presentation, Powers (via Variety) acknowledged that The Spot is “one of the deepest cuts in Spider-Man’s rogue gallery.” The character only appeared onscreen twice in the last 40 years. Once in an episode of the ‘90s Spider-Man cartoon, and more recently in an episode of Disney XD’s own Spider-Man series. So his role in Across the Spider-Verse comes as a major upgrade. Plus, his abilities allowed the animators to play around with his design. His appearance will also evolve throughout the film as he learns to better control his powers.
“We thought it would be really cool if the portals felt like living ink that had spilled or splattered on the comic artist’s drawing,” said Powers. “His very simple power provided endless exciting challenges and permutations for our team.”
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will hit theaters on June 2, 2023.
Are you excited to see Miles and his allies tangle with The Spot? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse -The Art of the Movie
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
