How Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’s Shocking Ending Sets Up Perfectly For Its Sequel
Released June 2nd this year, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse lives up to the predecessor’s name and exceeds all expectations from the audience, is critically acclaimed by critics, and has positive reactions from fans. Taking the concept of the vast Multiverse to a different level, the movie brings Miles and the audience through different dimensions to find The Spot, and meets countless versions of Web-Slinger variants who are parts of the massive Spider-Society, led by Miguel O’Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099. We were overwhelmed with the action-packed sequences, large-scale battles, and of course, the concept of canon events, which plays a pivotal part in the whole franchise.
The animated film brings us from one surprise to another, and ends with a huge cliffhanger that teases what will happen in the third part – Beyond the Spider-Verse – which will hit the theaters in March 2024. We’ll explain the massive plot twist at the end of the movie right away, and how it sets up the events of the final part of the trilogy.
#1. The build-up to Across the Spider-Verse’s shocking conclusion.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
The absolute climax of the animated movie is when the entire Spider-Society, led by Miguel O’Hara, commits a high-speed chase with Miles Morales, the protagonist, to stop him from reaching his father in Earth-1610. According to the concept of canon events which was explained earlier by Miguel, Jefferson Davis, Miles’s father, needs to die as a way to ensure the balance of the universe, just like how Uncle Ben or Captain Stacy’s unavoidable deaths in every other dimension.
Refusing to accept the truth, Miles finds a way to escape, with the whole Spider-Society chasing behind his back. The protagonist manages to flee but is sent into a different dimension instead, a world where there’s no Spider-Man, as the spider that is supposed to bite Peter in this universe, bites Miles of Earth-1610 instead.
#2. The final plot twist catches everyone off guard.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
In this world, he encounters his uncle, Aaron Davis, who’s still alive, but Jefferson has already passed away. He gets knocked out cold afterward, and is currently held hostage at Aaron’s place. It turns out, Aaron is not The Prowler, as it was Earth-42’s Miles Morales all along. With the spider gone, this version of Miles never got bitten, therefore he can never become Spider-Man, and that’s when Aaron jumps into the scene to corrupt him, turning him into The Prowler to avenge his father.
Our Miles is shocked to see his evil doppelganger, and the screen changes to Gwen, who’s rallying a team of Spider-People to aid.
The huge plot twist at the end got us all bewildered, and questions were asked about the events in the next film. Will Miles be able to save his father? And if he can, will his universe crumble like how Miguel’s did? How will they stop The Spot? What will happen to Miles’s variant on Earth-42? So many questions are left unanswered, and we’ll have to wait until next March to find out.
#3. Across the Spider-Verse’s ending perfectly teases the exciting course of actions in Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
The major plot twist and the cliffhanger at the end mean that the events in Beyond the Spider-Verse will continue what happens in the prequel, with Miles struggling his way out of The Prowler’s grasp, thinking of a way to return to Earth-1610 to save his father, while still having to deal with the constant pursuit from Miguel and the Spider-Society. He’ll also have to deal with The Spot, who’s guaranteed to be the ultimate antagonist of the movie.
#4. Will Miles and Miguel team up in the final battle?
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Spot has undergone a huge character development in Across the Spider-Verse, turning from some small-fry “Villain of the week” to an absurdly powerful antagonist that can mess up the concept of the whole Multiverse. His power is now way beyond Miles and Miguel’s reach, and they can only hope to defeat the bad guy if they put aside their grudge and work together as a team, along with the whole Spider-Society. If we’re lucky, Earth-42 Miles Morales might have a change of heart at the end, and join the good side eventually.
#5. Can Miles save his father in Beyond the Spider-Verse?
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
In Across the Spider-Verse, all Spider-Man’s loved ones’ deaths happen for a reason, and it’s properly explained by Miguel as the concept of “canon events.” Long story short, every Web-Slinger must lose someone dear to them in their respective universe as a way to define who they are, or else the balance of that very universe is going to collapse. And for Miles, that unavoidable death is of his father. Therefore, the protagonist tries to prevent the canon event from happening to him, while Miguel attempts to stop him to ensure the flow of the Multiverse from getting disrupted again.
Miles’s intention is clear: He will try to stop both events from happening at the same time, but that’s next to impossible. Will Miles be able to escape from the unavoidable canon event that brings tragedy to other Spider-People, or will he finally learn the lesson of sacrifice the hard way? Only time will tell.
Do you think Miles can save his father in Beyond the Spider-Verse? Will the team be able to defeat The Spot? Share your opinions in the comment.