A new Spider-Verse film is coming out soon and it's free.
The animated short film, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, is releasing on Sony's official YouTube channel on March 27.
Perhaps a way to tide audiences over until Beyond the Spider-Verseis launched, which is delayed indefinitely due to industry strikes, The Spider Within aims to fill that void with a story that delves into the mental health struggles of its protagonist, Miles Morales.
In The Spider Within, viewers will follow Miles as he juggles being a student, friend, and the superhero Spider-Man. It is a narrative that sees him experiencing a panic attack, a moment that prompts him to confront his anxieties and learn the importance of asking for help. This poignant theme, reflects real-world issues and emphasizes the message that it's okay not to be okay, even for superheroes.
Directed by Jarelle Dampier, The Spider Within debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last year as part of Sony Pictures' mentorship program, Leading and Empowering New Storytellers (LENS). The program is a platform to voices from the underrepresented groups in animation. The film's partnership with the Kevin Love Fund, an organization established by the namesake NBA superstar dedicated to mental health education and advocacy, further proves its commitment to sparking conversations around mental health.