It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago comic book fans swung back into AMC Theatres around the country to take in the action-packed and fan-servicing SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME. And although we don’t yet know when or if we’ll see Tom Holland suit up again as the “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” another version of the Web-Slinger will make his return to the big screen in less than a year.

That’s right, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, the highly-anticipated sequel to the eye-popping and reality-bending 2018 animated film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, will be here before you know it. But before you go digging for your Spider-Man, Spider-Gwen or even Spider-Ham costume, there are a few things you need to know about the 2023 movie. And, luckily for you, we have a ton of information about the release date, cast, story, and other things we can expect to see once the movie takes the big screen next summer. Let’s swing back into the action, shall we?

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Arrives June 2023

In December 2018, audiences fell in love with Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and the rest of the inter-dimensional Web-Heads in SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Ever since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of the franchise, its characters and incredible art style that looks like something pulled from the colorful splash-pages of Marvel Comics. There’s good news, as we don’t have to wait all that much longer until we pick back up with the superheroes.

Originally, the second chapter in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s animated Spider-Man franchise was scheduled to swing into theatres on April 8, 2022, but the release was pushed back to October 7 due to several issues. However, the release date was pushed back once more and now SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is slated to open on the big screen on June 2, 2023.

New And Returning Cast Members

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but most of the voice actors from SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE are returning to reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson will all be back as Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy and Peter B. Parker, respectively. It has yet to be revealed if John Mulaney’s Peter Porker, Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir or Kimiko Glenn’s Peni Parker will return. However, Oscar Isaac’s Miguel O’Hara, a.k.a. Spider-Man 2099, will be featured in a prominent role after being introduced in the first movie’s post-credits sequence.

In addition to all the returning heroes, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will also feature a handful of new characters when it takes to the big screen. Issa Rae will be taking on the role of Jessica Drew, a.k.a. Spider-Woman, while Jason Schwartzman has joined the cast as a villain named Spot who has the ability to jump from one universe to the next. Shea Whigham joins the cast as NYPD Captain, George Stacy.

Miles Morales Swings Back Into The Spider-Verse

As we have seen with other Marvel movies that have explored the multiverse, actions always have consequences, and SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will explore the fallout from the events that carried out during its predecessor. This was seen in the 15 minutes of exclusive footage Sony Pictures Animation shared during CinemaCon 2022 that showed Spider-Man 2099 confronting Spider-Gwen about the mess he’s been having to clean up in his universe after she and the other Spider-People destroyed Kingpin’s collider.

To help fix the mess — and take on a new villain who can freely travel through the multiverse — Gwen brings Miles Morales back into the action to take on this new threat and save the Spider-Verse from utter destruction.

A New Set Of Directors

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE was directed by the trio of Bob Perischetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, all three of whom took home an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. However, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE will be directed by a new set of directors, each who have a great deal of experience under their belts in the animation world.

First there is Joaquim Dos Santos, who has worked on shows like “Justice League Unlimited,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Voltron: Legendary Defender” over the course of his career. Kemp Powers made his directorial debut with the Academy Award winner SOUL, which he co-directed alongside Pete Docter. Justin K. Thompson’s work includes CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, “Star Wars: Clone Wars” and “Samurai Jack.”

Written By Phil Lord, Chris Miller And David Callaham

Just like the first movie in the franchise, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE was written by Phil Lord. But, instead of Rodney Rothman helping with the script, Lord co-wrote the movie alongside his longtime creative partner and Lord Miller Productions co-founder, Christopher Miller, as well as David Callaham, who most recently wrote SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS.

In addition to writing SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, Lord and Miller are also serving as producers on the upcoming animated superhero movie. On top of Lord Miller Productions, other companies guiding the direction of the movie include Pascal Pictures, Arad Productions and Marvel Entertainment.

A Third Spider-Verse Movie Will Follow

When Sony Pictures Animation released the first trailer for SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, the title also included (PART ONE) at the end, guaranteeing a third installment in the franchise would be released at some point in the future. At the time, this third movie was referred to as SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (PART TWO), but the film has since been given the new title of SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE. On top of that, the third installment has already been given a release date of March 29, 2024, though we’ll have to wait and see if that date sticks.

But, the fun doesn’t stop there as there is a female-centric spin-off in the works that is set to focus on Gwen Stacy, Jessica Drew, and Cindy Moon, as revealed in a 2018 Vanity Fair profile on the ever-growing Spider-Verse of movies. Expect to hear more about that project in the very near future.

In no time at all, we’ll be traveling with Miles Morales and company through the wild and crazy thrill ride that is the Spider-Verse.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE opens June 2, 2023.