The multiverse concept has allowed studios to break the rules in numerous ways, including the transition of live-action characters into animated films and vice versa. Jake Johnson’s portrayal of Peter B. Parker in the animated Spider-Verse has wowed us all, and we’re all itching to see him make the jump into live-action, but can this crossover become a reality?
Speaking to ComicBook.com, Johnson expressed that he wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of transitioning his character to live-action, saying, “I think for me, truthfully, it’s all about Phil Lord and Chris Miller. If Phil Lord or Chris texted and said, ‘We think this is really cool and we would like you to be part of it,’ then I’m in. If it’s Sony that says they have got a really fun idea and it’s a new director who’s at a great studio rate, I feel less excited about that.”
It’s no surprise that Johnson values the vision of writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller more than Sony itself. Studios are all about money, something he also mentioned.
When a film makes a killing at the box office, you can bet your bottom dollar that a sequel (or prequel) will be made. This is the reason why the Fast & Furious franchise never ends.
Sony knew it had found a winning formula in the Spider-Verse films, but nothing could have prepared them for what was about to come. In just 12 days of its release, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse surpassed Into the Spider-Verse’s global tally of $384.3 million and went on to become Sony Pictures Animation’s highest-grossing film.
Ending its theatrical run with a worldwide total of $690.5 million, it goes without saying that a sequel is happening (and also, the film ended with a huge cliffhanger that needs to be resolved). Interestingly, Johnson isn’t sure if Peter B. Parker will be returning in Beyond the Spider-Verse. As an older and more experienced Spider-Man, Peter B. Parker has been integral to Miles Morales, serving as his mentor and close friend.
However, his role in Across the Spider-Verse was not as big as that in the first film due to Gwen Stacy’s growing importance in Miles’ life. As a result, Johnson’s Spider-Man is not guaranteed to return for a third installment. Having said that, it’s almost impossible to see how Miles Morales could win the fight he’s picked against the Spider-Society without the help of the weary and relatable Peter B. Parker.
Considering Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse won’t hit theaters until 2025, it’s safe to say that there’s still a lot of time before Johnson can give any definitive answers about his character’s fate.
For now, fans of Johnson can look forward to seeing him in Self Reliance, his feature-length directorial debut, which will begin streaming on Hulu on January 12.
