Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has the opportunity to set up its very own version of the Illuminati using Sony's Marvel characters. The upcoming sequel to 2018's hit animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is set to hit theaters on June 2nd, introducing Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) to an even wider multiverse than he ever imagined. In exploring the worlds of various Spider-Man variants, Across the Spider-Verse and its 2024 sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse, have the exciting prospect of setting up an Illuminati that rivals even that of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and could have a massive impact on all of Sony's future Marvel films.
Even more powerful than the Avengers, Marvel's Illuminati is a group of superhuman geniuses who convene in order to shape the world as they see fit. Though they influence the world from the shadows, their intentions are mostly pure, even if their methods are sometimes questionable. Many well-known Marvel characters have been a part of the Illuminati, including Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Professor Xavier, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Black Panther, and more. After the team's live-action debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the door has been opened for other similar groups to appear in different Marvel titles, including Sony's beloved Spider-Verse franchise.
Across The Spider-Verse Can Introduce The Galactic Alliance Of Spider-Men
Delving deeper into the multiverse, Across the Spider-Verse's story may be building to the formation of the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men. Recent trailers for the highly anticipated film have revealed Miles, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), and Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) traveling to an otherworldly facility filled with Spider-Man variants from all across the multiverse. Included among their ranks are Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), and Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya). Yet, with confirmations that Spider-Man India, Scarlet Spider, Spectacular Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man, and more will all appear in the film, it seems that Across the Spider-Verse is building to a much more direct coalition of Spider-Man variants for future films.
With so many Spider-Man variants appearing in Across the Spider-Verse, the franchise needs an organized and methodical way to sort through its many different versions of the beloved web-slinging superhero. Installing a governing body over the multiversal Spider-Men is the next logical step in the franchise's story, putting certain trustworthy variants in charge of overseeing otherworldly operations and protecting the means of multiversal contact. If this indeed proves to be the case, the upcoming Spider-Verse film could end with the installation of the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men from Marvel Comics, complete with a high council created with the express purpose of keeping the multiverse from crumbling under their watchful eye.
What Is The Galactic Alliance Of Spider-Men In Marvel Comics?
Unlike the villainous Council of Kangs recently introduced in the MCU, the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men is a heroic organization in Marvel Comics, albeit a relatively minor one. To this day, this space-based team has only made one appearance, in 2007's Marvel Comics Presents #1. Therein, the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men was introduced as an organization comprised of spider-based heroes from all throughout the galaxy. The team was mostly introduced as a joke, revealing that different Spider-Men all seemed to have the same personal problems as Peter Parker, but their first and only appearance nevertheless has incredible potential for the future of Spider-Man movies.
Although the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men was not multiversal in nature, comprised of Spider-Men from Marvel's mainline Earth-616 universe, the group does seem to have its roots in similar ideas to that of the Spider-Verse. While they don't hail from different universes, each Spider-Man from the alliance appears to be a different version of Peter Parker, having lived a similar life with many of the same problems. Had the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men debuted after 2014's major Spider-Verse event, it might have been imagined as a multiversal team, which may indeed be the case should they ever make their way into a future Spider-Man film.
How A Spider-Man Illuminati Can Affect Future Marvel Movies
The introduction of a multiversal Illuminati based around Spider-Man variants would have a massive effect on upcoming Marvel movies, MCU or otherwise. With an organization specifically designated to exploring and preserving the multiversal, crossover between different franchises becomes easier than ever before. If the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men, or a similarly titled team of high-ranking Spider-Man variants, makes its debut in the Spider-Verse films, it could also appear in other universes, including the MCU, which is in the midst of its own multiverse story. More likely, the Venomverse, which will explore the multiverse in next year's Madame Web, can finally connect to Sony's more financially successful Marvel franchise.
The introduction of Sony's own Spider-Man Illuminati would have a massive effect on future Spider-Verse films. In lieu of introducing a live-action Miles Morales, Sony could double down on the Spider-Verse character, expanding the franchise to include his exploits as an agent of the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men. Moreover, if introduced in an upcoming movie, the newly formed organization would certainly factor heavily into Beyond the Spider-Verse and any future installments of the beloved animated franchise, carving out a new and exciting corner of Marvel cinema that features Miles Morales's Spider-Man as the central character for many more years to come.
Who Could Be A Part Of The Galactic Alliance Of Spider-Men?
Sony would have a deep bank of Spider-Man characters to draw from in a potential adaptation of the Galactic Alliance of Spider-Men. For instance, certain Spider-Man variants featured in Across the Spider-Verse would have a high chance of joining the alliance. Miles Morales and Miguel O'Hara seem particularly likely candidates given their importance in the upcoming Spider-Verse film, with other variants like Spider-Gwen and Peter B. Parker also standing a strong chance as well. However, a multiversal commune of Spider-Man variants wouldn't be limited to characters solely seen in the Spider-Verse franchise but could also include certain Spider-Men from other beloved film series.
The live-action Spider-Men have had their own dealings with the multiverse recently, with Spider-Man: No Way Home uniting Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland onscreen for the first time. Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man return as a more experienced mentor figure is particularly exciting, offering his character a way to continue appearing in films without locking the actor into a multi-picture deal. Moreover, Dakota Johnson's Madame Web could connect the Venomverse and the Spider-Verse, especially given her connection to the multiverse in the comics. While not all of these characters will appear in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the upcoming film can certainly set up their return on the forthcoming Spider-Man Illuminati.
