Major spoilers for Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse inside.
Sony’s Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse might just be crowned victor for having the most cameos in an animated comic book movie. It’s no secret that the sequel to Into The Spider-Verse includes a plethora of variant Spider-People. However, even the major cameo count reaches high numbers with some even confirming theories that have existed for half a decade.
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Some major cameos in Across The Spider-Verse may have even gone unnoticed by some audience members. Various setups and confirmations were made throughout the 2 hours plus of runtime. It’s safe to assume that the overloaded information may need to be broken down piece by piece.
See below for our full list of every major Across The Spider-Verse cameo from Donald Glover’s Prowler to Spider-Man Noir. (Not in chronological order.)
Live-Action: Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man
Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker aka Spider-Man was officially made canon to the animated Spider-Verse franchise. Spider-Man 2099 briefly shows the footage of Maguire’s Spider-Man to Miles Morales. The footage shown is from the iconic scene where Uncle Ben dies in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002).
This cameo is one of the most important ones in the movie due to the fact that Maguire’s Spider-Man universe is now canon to the Spider-Verse franchise. It also confirms that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is canon to the animated Miles Morales franchise due to the events of Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures’ live-action MCU sequel Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Maguire’s cameo is shown on a hexagon screen.
Live-Action: Cliff Robertson’s Uncle Ben
Alongside Maguire’s brief cameo was that of the late Cliff Robertson who starred as the live-action Uncle Ben in Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie. Robertson’s moment in Across The Spider-Verse is shown during the same part where Maguire’s Spider-Man is looking down on Uncle Ben on the street.
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This is by far one of the most memorable scenes in Marvel’s history of cinema. It has also become one of the most consistent and key elements of what makes a Spider-Man or Spider-Woman movie.
Robertson’s cameo is shown on a hexagon screen.
Live-Action: Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man
Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man is also shown during a scene where Spider-Man 2099 is showing footage of various Spider-People losing people that are close to them. The scene shown is from The Amazing Spider-Man where Garfield’s Peter Parker looks down on Denis Leary’s Capt. George Stacy.
George Stacy as many fans will know is the father of Gwen Stacy who is played by Hailee Steinfeld in Across The Spider-Verse and Emma Stone in the live-action Amazing Spider-Man movies.
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The way Garfield is shown, however, is interesting as it isn’t your typical flashback. His Spider-Man is shown by Spider-Man 2099 through the use of futuristic holographic technology. This really focuses on the fact that the animated characters are fully aware that live-action variants do exist.
Live-Action: Denis Leary’s George Stacy
It wouldn’t be fair to mention Garfield’s cameo without discussing the fact that Leary’s George Stacy makes a somewhat brief appearance via old footage for a fair few seconds in Across The Spider-Verse.
You don’t get the best look at him but any die-hard fan of Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man will know it’s him. The scene shown is his death scene in the movie after taking a serious blow from The Lizard.
Live-Action: Donald Glover’s Prowler
Donald Glover’s Aaron Davis from Spider-Man: Homecoming returns in Across The Spider-Verse which both confirms he is indeed the uncle to Miles Morales and sets up so much for the future. Glover is shown in full Prowler costume but it isn’t clear if this is the same Glover from the MCU or a variant.
Marvel Studios and Sony have been working hand-in-hand for years now when it comes to Spider-Man and Glover’s involvement with this new instalment is no exception.
Despite no announcement being made as of yet, it’s safe to assume that Glover’s cameo as Prowler is being used as a setup for Tom Holland’s future along with the recently announced fact that a live-action Miles Morales movie is now in the works over at Sony.
Animated: Mahershala Ali’s Aaron Davis
Mahershala Ali’s Aaron Davis returns during the final moments of Across The Spider-Verse due to Miles Morales travelling to an alternative universe. However, this isn’t just a small cameo as the ending sets up for Ali’s Aaron Davis to return for the next instalment Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse.
Ali starred as the same character in Into The Spider-Verse but died during the events of the movie. This new variant of the character doesn’t seem to be too friendly this time around though.
Live-Action: Mrs. Chen From Tom Hardy’s Venom-Verse
Some may have already seen prior to the release of Across The Spider-Verse that Mrs. Chen played by Peggy Lu from the Tom Hardy Venom franchise makes an appearance. Lu’s Mrs. Chen makes an appearance during a scene where The Spot pops his head out of a portal to see none other than Chen behind her kiosk where she usually resides in both Venom and Let There Be Carnage.
This also makes Tom Hardy’s Venom franchise canon to the animated Spider-Verse franchise. This may be considered to be a potential setup by Sony for future crossovers between the two universes. It could even be safe to theorize that Hardy will make an official appearance as Venom in the next one.
Animated: Jack Quaid as Peter Parker
Jack Quaid’s cameo is new to the franchise but important overall as he stars as Gwen Stacy’s Peter Parker. Hailee Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy is shown to have lost her Peter Parker due to him becoming The Lizard in her universe. Quaid serves as the voice for Peter during this scene.
This could in fact be a setup or even sly confirmation that Quaid will be starring alongside Steinfeld in the recently announce Spider-Woman movie that’s currently in the works at Sony.
Voice: J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson
J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson makes a new cameo in Across The Spider-Verse but does not make a visual appearance as only his voice is heard during the ending. The most interesting part of his cameo is the fact that he says the words “Sinister Six”. This is said in a universe that Miles Morales realises has no Spider-Man to protect it and potentially could be run by the Sinister Six.
You don’t hear much else from J. Jonah Jameson but the setup is clearly for the Sinister Six to be involved in the next instalment of the Spider-Verse franchise.
Animated: Lego Spider-Man
The Lego Spider-Man even makes an appearance during Across The Spider-Verse. In fact, the whole Lego universe is shown for about half a minute. This scene includes a Lego J. Jonah Jameson with reused audio from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2.
Lego Spider-Man’s voice sounds identical to James Arnold Taylor who voices Lego Spider-Man / Peter Parker in Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Popular YouTuber Andrés Navy also revealed that he serves as a dubbed voice for the Lego character in Across The Spider-Verse.
Animated: Spider-Man Noir
Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir returns briefly for the final moments of the movie. You don’t hear Cage talk so technically it’s just Spider-Man Noir. But it’s made clear that the Spider-Man Noir seen is the same one from Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and not a variant of that… variant.
Animated: Spider-Ham
Spider-Ham also makes a comeback in Across The Spider-Verse but only for a brief amount of time. However, it is also made clear that this is the same Spider-Ham from Into The Spider-Verse.
Animated: Peni Parker
Peni Parker from Into The Spider-Verse also returns for a brief moment during the finale of the movie. It’s made clear that Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Ham, and Peni Parker will be back for Beyond The Spider-Verse to help Gwen Stacy aka Spider-Woman save Miles Morales.
Mention: Tom Holland’s Peter Parker
Tom Holland doesn’t have a visual cameo in Across The Spider-Verse. However, Spider-Man 2099 does mention Holland’s Spider-Man during a quick scene where he rants about how Holland’s Peter Parker caused so much damage during the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Mention: Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange gets an actual name mention from Spider-Man 2099 in Across The Spider-Verse. However, he does not make a visual cameo in the movie.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is now playing in theatres worldwide.