Spider-Man – Across the Spider-Verse: On the red carpet with Hailee Steinfeld, Shameik Moore and Daniel Kaluuya

After the blazing success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse back in 2018 (picking up the Oscar for best-animated film, no less) there’s been much anticipation building for a sequel. Now, finally, Miles Morales is back in another stupendously beautiful animated adventure, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and the stars of the film hit an aptly blue carpet in London’s Leicester Square to tell us all about it.

The stunning Hailee Steinfeld told us what fans can expect from the follow-up, not least a spectacular blend of emotion, heart, humour and stunning animation, adding that the soundtrack is not to be missed. The actor shared her excitement at reprising the role of Gwen Stacy, discussing the evolving dynamics between Gwen and Miles, while also touching on the pressure of bringing such an iconic character to life, viewing it more with excitement as an honour, rather than a burden. She applauded the filmmakers for crafting a story that keeps longtime fans in mind, and also praised her fellow cast, expressing her delight at being part of such a talented ensemble.

The brilliant Shameik Moore then stopped to chat to us about voicing Miles once more, and how he found many parallels with his character, which helped him bring it to life. He also shared the joy of working with his fellow cast, and that, for him, a big driver of taking on the film and role was the impact it can have on culture and more broadly. 

Composer Daniel Pemberton also spoke to us about his work on the soundtrack, sharing insights on how he crafted distinctive soundscapes for each character, comparing the complexity of intertwining the musical themes to a game of 3D chess. He highlighted the impressive performances of the cast, especially the emotion that actor Moore brings to the role of Miles. Pemberton also discussed the emotional resonance of the film, particularly the evolving relationship between Gwen and Miles, and how the soundtrack accentuates these story arcs. Reflecting on his past collaborations with esteemed directors like Danny Boyle and Ridley Scott, Pemberton revealed his admiration for innovative, unique projects. Even though there are other directors he’d like to work with, he respects the strong relationships they share with their composers.

British export Daniel Kaluuya also hit the blue carpet to share his thoughts on joining the franchise to voice Spider-Punk, connecting with his character’s Camden roots and the talented creative team that were able to pull off the mesmerising look and feel of the movie.

Sarah Bradbury

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is released nationwide on 2^nd June 2023.

Watch the trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse here: