“We’re going to heal the world.” See Venom in action in the new story trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that just dropped at the Symbiotic Relationships panel at #MarvelSDCC! #ad #BeGreaterTogether #SpiderMan2PS5 pic.twitter.com/ObGtiWFtRK
— Spider-Man (@SpiderMan) July 20, 2023
*Calling All Spidey Fandom*
As we’re sure you’re all aware, after the original film with Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, there have been several mighty spin-offs. From the classic sequel with Doctor Octopus to the reprisal in 2012 with fresh-faced Garfield as Spidey to the quirky and humorous Venom starring Tom Hardy. The Spider-Man cinematic universe is vast, and just like a spiderweb, it keeps expanding. Let’s take a look at the impact the Spidey-Verse has had on the gaming industry and cinema so far:
The Gaming World
First off, let’s talk about the gaming impact. Spidey has been a fan-favorite in the gaming world for decades, but the popularity of the films injected a serious dose of excitement into the virtual world of our friendly neighborhood web-slinger.
Remember the old-school games like ‘Spider-Man’ on PlayStation, swinging around NYC like a pro, to ‘The Amazing Spider-Man video games that took us on a fresher adventure once the Andrew Garfield films hit? The hype certainly hasn’t slowed down since then – ExpressVPN’s blog piece mentions how the highly anticipated ‘Spider-Man 2’ has been googled roughly 970,550 times since last month in the US alone. Of course, just as the Spider-Man films have improved over the years in CGI and special effects, the video games have been swinging alongside, improving, and pushing the boundaries in visual and gameplay excellence.
ExpressVPN also notes how the anticipated Spidey game introduces new mechanics such as ‘Web Wings,’ which allow Spidey a break from all the swinging to glide instead. And with Venom – the video game’s most iconic opponent yet – being voiced by the legend Tony Todd, it’s safe to say we understand why this particular video game is receiving the most hype yet. That’s for sure!
The Cinematic Influence
Little did we know, way back in 2002, when Tobey Maguire first donned the Spidey suit, the impact it would have on cinema. Since the original trilogy’s success, we got to see different interpretations of Peter Parker’s journey, and new villains brought their own flair of menace, including Tom Hardy’s dark and humorous portrayal of Eddie Brock in the Venom films. FandomWire notes how Hardy’s ability to transcend complicated characters makes him the perfect star to play Venom.
And then, in 2018, something quite extraordinary in the Spidey-Verse happened. The animated ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ swung into the spotlight and turned everything upside down – but for the better. It wasn’t just visually stunning; the film had a soundtrack to perfectly complement the stylish animation involving an epic collaboration of artists, with classics such as ‘What’s Up Danger’ by Blackway and Black Caviar to other iconic names like Nicki Minaj, Vince Staples and XXXTenacion contributing to create a symphony of sounds that perfectly matched the multiverses next-level coolness.
Now, with the most recent sequel ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ hitting cinemas accompanied by names such as Ice Spice, Lil Wayne, Wizkid, and A$AP Rocky on the film’s soundtrack, it seems safe to say that the Spider-Man universe is not only a growing sensation for us normal folk but for celebrities alike. NME reveals how reviews have said the most recent animation is the best yet, having drawn major plaudits for its unique animation style, storyline, and iconic music to boot, of course!
A Spider-Masterpiece(s)
It’s safe to say the popularity of Spider-Man films has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, influencing the trajectory of future films and video games. As the Spider-Man universe has expanded, we’ve witnessed a web of spin-off films that explored alternate versions of the character and delved into other stories from the Spider-Man universe.
In recent years, we’ve seen the Spidey-Universe shatter boundaries of what was possible with the character, bringing together multiple Spider-People from different dimensions, as well as a banging soundtrack to boot. As the web-slinger continues to swing through the entertainment world, one thing remains certain: Spider-Man’s influence is far-reaching and bound to spin a web of excitement for generations to come.
