Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has released its first official trailer and offers some insights into the possibility of Spider-Man himself being a villain in the movie. The film will be released in June 2023 and follow on from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Miles, after coming back into contact with Gwen Stacy, travels across the Spider-Verse once again where he and the other Spider-People encounter a new threat.
With the Spider-Verse promising to open up in an unprecedented way in the upcoming sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will likely bring many villainous aspects. The first film focused on villains from Miles' own universe, like the Kingpin, Doctor Octopus, Tombstone, and Scorpion. Now that the second film is expected to widen the number of characters from the vast Spider-Verse, as seen by the trailer, there are hints that not all of them could see Miles as the hero of his story.
How Across The Spider-Verse Sets Up Spider-Man As The Villain
According to the film's official synopsis, Miles and Gwen will clash with the other Spider-People they encounter across the multiverse over how to deal with a new threat that emerges. That threat will lead Spider-People like Gwen and Miles, and maybe Peter B. Parker, to have a different view on how to stop it than the likes of Spider-Man 2099. The trailer showcases more of Oscar Isaac's new character, and portrays him as the main Spider-Man, disagreeing with Miles and asking him: "Who do you think you are?" It is likely that Miles' plan for how to stop the threat goes against the views of the other Spider-People, and they begin to view him as the villain.
However, considering the film contains many different versions of Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse could set up multiple Spider-People as the villain. While Miles is made to look like the villain of the film from the point of view of the other Spider-People, the film will almost certainly portray the story from Miles' perspective as with the first film. This could place every other Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse as Miles' antagonists meaning he needs to figure out his own way to deal with the threat that puts him at odds with the other Spider-Men, therefore setting up Spider-Man as a wider concept as the villain of the film.
Why Miles Morales Really Fights Other Spider-Men In Across The Spider-Verse
This clash of ideologies is likely the main reason why the trailer for Across the Spider-Verse shows Miles fighting the other Spider-People. If Miles has his own view on how to stop the threat to the Spider-Verse, it could be one that risks the Spider-Man multiverse as a whole. This could be a similar plot point to Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which Spider-Man goes against Doctor Strange as the latter's solution goes against the former's heroic ways. This could be the same with Miles Morales, and Across the Spider-Verse could show him fighting against the other Spider-People in order to think of a better way to stop the multiversal threat.
Who The Real Villain In Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Is
All that being said, the real villain for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has already been confirmed as The Spot. The Spot is a character from Marvel Comics who can manipulate portals of dark energy that can access the multiverse, which makes sense for a franchise dealing directly with that concept. The Spot is a slightly obscure choice as the film's main villain due to his less-popular comic book status. However, the directors of the film explained that he and Miles - a character long theorized for the MCU - are connected in interesting ways and that he will be the villain of both this film and the next part of the Spider-Verse franchise.
It is likely that the Spot is the threat to the Spider-Verse that the official synopsis mentions, and the Spider-People clash on ways to deal with him. Considering that Spot and Miles are apparently connected, Miles could try to save the Spot. In typical Spider-Man fashion Miles could try and get through to the Spot rather than kill him, which causes less optimistic, more weary Spider-Men like Spider-Man 2099 to go after Miles.
The Spot has rarely been seen in the merchandising for the film, unlike Miles' other villain/antagonist Spider-Man 2099, though he is confirmed to be voiced by Jason Schwartzman. He will likely play a big role, given his confirmed appearance in both this film and its sequel. How exactly the Spot's plans will factor into the film remain to be seen, though it is clear from the official trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse that it could make more than one Spider-Man the secondary antagonist of the film.
