We could be seeing Sadie Sink take the place of Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the Stranger Things star is rumored to be ing the MCU as a multiverse variant of none other than Gwen Stacy.

It’s been a tough few years for MCU Spider-Man fans. Can you believe it’s been nearly four whole years since we last saw Tom Holland’s web-slinging hero on the big screen? How the time flies. But at long last we’re seeing signs of life with Marvel gearing up for a fourth movie in 2026, and with the hype of a new Spidey instalment comes all the rumors and speculation we’re used to seeing.

The Sadie Sink rumor explored

The rumor has been attributed to Jeff Sneider, the same guy who claimed Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Doctor Doom two months before the announcement was made. If his source is right then that means we could be seeing Sink swing onto our screens as the new live-action Gwen Stacy.

While Sneider has proven himself to be reliable with leaks in the past he isn’t always spot on. Three months ago he was saying that Sink’s role in the MCU might be as an MJ variant. Prior to that he was claiming she was set to play Jean Grey. So let’s take what this guy says with a grain of salt. It certainly sounds like Sadie Sink will be appearing in the MCU in some capacity, but the exact details of her role are somewhat vague right now.

Fan reactions to the news ranged from excitement, with some saying she’s perfect for the role, to confusion, with one person noting that she has “been rumored so far to be playing 10 different characters.”

What does this mean for Zendaya?

We have plenty of questions about this casting of course. First of all, will Sink be playing regular Gwen Stacy or Spider-Gwen? If it’s the former then that would make her a potential love interest to Peter Parker. So what would that mean for Zendaya’s MJ? 

The truth is we just don’t know right now. It’s not even confirmed that this is 100% the role Sadie Sink will be playing in the Spider-Man film. In all honesty even if Sink does the cast as Gwen there will probably always be room for Zendaya/MJ. Her character is pretty much integral to every Spider-Man story and it’s hard to imagine Marvel giving us a Spider-Man story without Tom Holland and Zendaya. 

Let’s not forget the fact that the two are also engaged in real life making it even more unlikely that Marvel would keep them separate on-screen. Either way, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics of this iteration of Peter Parker and MJ shift with the potential addition of Gwen Stacy.

According to the whispers making their way, Marvel Studios is reportedly eyeing Emma Myers to play Gwen Stacy in the MCU film Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the highly anticipated fourth installment in the MCU’s Spider-Man series, with Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker and Zendaya reprising her role as MJ. The film is expected to pick up where Spider-Man: No Way Home left off, with Peter Parker essentially erased from the lives of everyone he loves. MJ has no memory of him, Ned is off living his best life, and Peter is left swinging solo, trying to figure out what his next chapter looks like.

This setup presents the perfect opportunity to introduce Gwen Stacy. With MJ no longer in the picture (at least romantically, for now), Gwen could enter as a fresh new presence in Peter’s life. And if Marvel decides to lean into the multiverse chaos introduced in No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there’s even a chance we could see the Spider-Gwen version of the character, which would be a game-changer for the MCU.

Casting rumors in the MCU are as common as Stan Lee cameos used to be: everywhere, all the time. But Myers has a few things working in her favor. First, let’s talk about her breakout role in Wednesday. Myers played Enid Sinclair, the bubbly, pastel-loving werewolf who won hearts as the perfect counterbalance to Jenna Ortega’s brooding Wednesday Addams. Her performance not only showcased her ability to shine alongside a powerhouse lead but also proved she could bring depth and likability to a role that could’ve easily been one-dimensional. This kind of charisma is exactly what a character like Gwen Stacy demands.

Myers has openly expressed interest in playing Gwen Stacy, particularly Spider-Gwen, the multiverse version of the character who dons her own web-slinging suit. 

Here’s where things get tricky. While Marvel has creative control over Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Sony still owns the rights to many of the characters in Spidey’s world, including Gwen Stacy. And let’s not forget, Sony already has their own wildly successful Gwen in the form of Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen from the Spider-Verse animated films. With Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and its sequel Beyond the Spider-Verse cementing Steinfeld’s Gwen as a fan favorite, Sony might be hesitant to let Marvel introduce another live-action Gwen Stacy into the mix.

But there’s another angle to consider. If Sony and Marvel can come to some sort of agreement (as they did with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man), introducing Gwen Stacy in Brand New Day could benefit both studios. Marvel gets to expand its Spider-Man storyline, while Sony gets to keep the character relevant for their own projects. It’s a win-win—assuming everyone can play nice, of course.

It’s been 84 years, but Spider-Man 4 is finally getting somewhere as the first new cast member for the long-awaited next outing for Tom Holland’s webslinger has been announced. And, honestly, Zendaya might want to be worried that someone is coming to steal her man (um, only on screen, that is).

As per Deadline, Stranger Things breakout Sadie Sink has ed Holland in the currently untitled fourth MCU Spider-Man film. Shang-Chi‘s Destin Daniel Cretton is taking over directing duties for this one, with Holland and Zendaya both confirmed to feature. The latter, however, is expected to have somewhat of a reduced role. Both on of where the last movie left off and because she’s also due to shoot both Dune 3 and Euphoria season 3 in the coming months.

It’s currently unclear who Sink could be playing, but given her closeness in age to Holland — she’s 22, he’s 28 — and Zendaya’s limited presence, she could well be the film’s female lead and therefore a potential new love interest for Peter Parker. Deadline notes that the “prevailing theory” surrounding Sink’s casting is that she could be Jean Grey, but this seems rooted in fan conjecture and the actress’ resemblance to the iconic X-Men heroine rather than insider information.

Another theory that’s gaining traction is that Sink could be the MCU’s actual Mary Jane Watson, as Zendaya’s character is known as MJ but is officially Michelle Jones. While conceptually possible, though, this feels extremely unlikely as it could only be viewed as a slight to Zendaya and a capitulation to the racist backlash that’s shadowed her take on the character since 2017. Besides, No Way Home effectively confirmed that Michelle is this Earth’s variant of Mary Jane. Deal with it, haters.

So who could Sink realistically be portraying? Marvel fans have ideas. Like, a lot of ideas. “Forget Jean Grey, give me Angelica Jones,” pitched one Redditor. This is in reference to the second most notable redhead associated with Spidey — the mutant heroine Firestar, most ed for her starring role in 1980s cartoon Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. “If the title of this movie somehow turns out to be Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends and they cast Iceman I’ll be hyped af,” wrote a fellow child of the ’80s. “That cartoon was the best as a kid!”

Another wondered if the Jean Grey rumor might just be a case of mistaken identity. “Maybe he misheard and it was actually “Jeanne”. As in Jeanne Foucault/Finesse">Peter and MJ forcibly separated due to the memory-wiping spell in No Way Home, the most obvious route to go down would be for Gwen to show up. And yet the X-Men are coming, so slotting a mutant character like Jean or even Firestar in there could be the logical choice, too. Zendaya fans can rest assured that she will return in Spider-Man 4, but seeing as she is the first person ing the cast, it does seem like Sink might just steal the show… and maybe Peter’s heart.

An almost magical feat, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a masterclass in animation when it first premiered in 2018. Featuring Miles Morales in his feature film debut, the movie brought audiences into a wild world of Spider-People.

But since then, the Spider-Verse stock has significantly plummeted. Instead of a cut-and-dried sequel, Sony decided to split the follow-up into two films, which seems to be the status quo for most franchise films these days. Across the Spider-Verse premiered in 2023, but instead of focusing on Miles (Shameik Moore), the film gave Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) more agency than its lead. Numerous fan-favorite characters such as Spider Noir (Nicolas Cage) and Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) were largely missing, and the film did a massive disservice to Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), inexplicably turning him into a villain. Fleshed-out characters such as Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) were overshadowed by a team of Spider-People who go against everything that being Spider-Man is all about.

Instead of living by Peter Parker’s adage of doing the right thing no matter the cost, the coalition of Spider-People becomes corrupt and turns against Miles. Gwen, most of all, is a traitor against her friend. Across the Spider-Verse concludes with Gwen finally getting with the program and corralling the best Spider-People to help Miles, making the film feel like a big filler episode leading to the second part. And even with all the theatrics, the Spider-Verse‘s problems were far from over.

While Beyond the Spider-Verse is one of the most anticipated releases, the third film has been consumed with production issues. The original release date of summer 2024 came and went with no signs of when the film would be released. Initially, this delay was due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA Hollywood strikes, which delayed many productions. Nevertheless, as other features continued on, Spider-Verse remained stagnant. As fans wait in earnest, rumors have run wild about when Beyond the Spider-Verse can be expected.

Is the Beyond the Spider-Verse delay real?

The film’s delay has recently been exacerbated by news of in-house tension. According to industry insider Jeff Sneider, Beyond the Spider-Verse has had so many creative differences that fans may have to wait until 2o27 to see a final product. He claimed that production had been halted because most of the story had to be overhauled. This statement was neither confirmed nor denied by Sony, but someone spoke up for the animated film on X (formerly Twitter).

Daniel Pemberton, a composer for the film, retweeted these allegations, with his own pointed response. He didn’t outright say that the claims were false, but it isn’t hard to read between the lines. Pemberton’s social media indicates that there are no such production issues. However, it is hard to take this at face value when there is no secret about hold-ups in the past.

Last year, several animators came forward and confessed to Vulture that they were enduring difficult working conditions. Animators were pushed to their limits, forcing at least 100 of them to quit before the film was finished. The remaining animators worked every day for over 10 hours to complete the film. It is no secret that the Spider-Verse films have had production issues, so it isn’t much of a stretch to believe further delays. At this time, the delays for Beyond the Spider-Verse remain a he-said, he-said situation.

The death of Gwen Stacy isn’t just a piece of pivotal Spider-Man lore; it’s an event that completely changed comic book history.

It’s generally understood among comic book historians that Gwen Stacy dying at the hands of Green Goblin in 1973 was one of the, if not the, defining events that helped usher in the Bronze Age of comics, bringing a close to the more romantic and glossy Silver Age.

Until 1973, ing characters close to the main protagonist were relatively safe in the world of comic books. When you picked up a superhero mag around that time, you knew Jimmy Olsen was in no real danger of getting fatally zapped while Superman duked it out with Brainiac. Iris West would never get seriously hurt while Flash battled Gorilla Grodd. And Gwen Stacy was never going to get caught in the crossfire between Spider-Man and Green Goblin.

Except, as comic book historian Arnold T. Blumberg puts it: “Superheroes had some growing up to do.”

And grow up Spider-Man did. Like the death of Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy’s tragic fate became a cornerstone of Peter Parker’s mythos and story. After the release of Amazing Spider-Man #121, one could not analyze Spider-Man’s character without ing Gwen Stacy. And no comic book storyline demonstrates this as beautifully and masterfully as Jeph Loeb’s 2002-2003 six-issue limited series, Spider-Man: Blue.

Spider-Man: Blue reminds us why Peter Parker is the most relatable hero of them all

Illustrated by Batman veteran Tim Sale and taking place during Valentine’s Day, Spider-Man: Blue portrays a present-day Peter Parker reflecting on the death of Gwen Stacy. Talking into a tape recorder, Peter “speaks” to Gwen, recounting how they met, plainly stating in the first issue: “Your name was Gwen Stacy. Mine is Peter Parker. This is the story of how we fell in love.”

Through this tragic narrative tool, Blue brings readers back to some previous tales, reimagining earlier Amazing Spider-Man issues and showcasing the hero battling his nastiest foes; we see Spider-Man lay the smackdown on the Lizard, Rhino, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter, and, of course, the Green Goblin. (Though, interestingly, that tragic day on George Washington Bridge is never actually portrayed. In fact, the villain actually has minimal page time, despite being responsible for Gwen Stacy’s death.)

These fights, while brought to life brilliantly by the great Tim Sale, don’t actually take center stage in Spider-Man: Blue. Peter doesn’t look back on these clashes with awe or glory. In fact, these encounters almost purposely distract the reader — and Peter himself — from the story’s real heart: Peter trying to be a normal teenager. 

Throughout Blue, our favorite wallcrawler is desperately trying to find the time to spend with his friends, not just Gwen Stacy. Peter seems committed to maintaining his friendship with Harry Osborn despite his father, Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, being his literal archnemesis. Peter also clumsily tries to balance Mary Jane Watson entering his life while his feelings for Gwen continue to burgeon. Heck, in Blue, it seems Peter would much rather be spending time with his old childhood Bully, Flash Thompson, than taking up his crimson-blue mantle.

Spider-Man: Blue reminds us that at the end of the day, New York City’s great protector is just a young, intelligent goofball who wants to enjoy the everyday. He wants to go out on dates and impress that special girl. He wants to hang out with his friends. He wants to blow his savings on something extravagant. He wants to be Peter Parker. However, Spider-Man is the responsibility that keeps calling, and Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale do a spectacular job of showing just how much of a toll being a hero takes on Peter’s daily life.

The writer-artist duo also does a tremendous job of portraying a young man coping with trauma and grief. As exciting as it is to see Spidey punch the Lizard and Vulture in the face, the true plot of Spider-Man: Blue revolves around deeper and more emotional conflicts, such as the ing of time, and dealing with loss.

Spider-Man: Blue explores heartfelt and poignant themes

In Spider-Man: Blue, the flashbacks of our hero fighting his rogues’ gallery offer readers some nice punchy fanservice. Seeing Peter Parker try to navigate the obstacles and woes of teenage youth is also a delight. However, the true emotional nucleus that propels the story forward and makes it so unique is the median through which it’s told.

The blue thought bubbles present throughout the series continuously remind the reader that this story is essentially a string of events being ed and recorded aloud by Peter. And each issue ends with an emphatic piece of onomatopoeia: “klik!”

For most of the series, we don’t actually see the present-day Peter. We only read his thoughts as he retells the story of how he met and fell in love with Gwen Stacy. This creates a powerful, ominous feeling that radiates off the pages, especially when we get to the happier s, such as when Gwen and Peter first meet or when she asks him to be her Valentine, and they finally kiss. While these moments are beautiful, they are laced with harrowing sorrow because we, the reader, are aware of the end tragedy.

In the last issue of Spider-Man: Blue, at the very end, it’s revealed that Peter is alone in an attic while recording his messages. He is seen with a noticeable stubble; the attic is dark, and one clearly shows him crying. These s pack an incredibly emotional punch. They hit much harder than images of Spider-Man getting thrown into a wall or smacked around by Kraven the Hunter. We are immediately met with the fact that this is not the fresh-faced youngster from the flashbacks that beamed with energy in every . This is a grown man ing the good times, and the bad.

In the last few s, Peter mentions how he and Mary Jane are married, and how she helped him learn to love again. Mary Jane suddenly appears briefly, telling her husband: “Say ‘Hello’ for me and tell Gwen I miss her too.”

In these moments, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale perfectly encapsulate Spider-Man’s entire character. This is a masked adventurer who has taken down mob bosses and evil scientists and encountered all-powerful figures like the Beyonder. He has tussled with alien symbiotes and probably has the likes of Captain America and Iron Man on speed dial. However, at the end of the day, Peter Parker is still a man with regrets. He’s a person who sometimes can’t help but long for the unattainable past.

Spider-Man: Blue shows that Gwen Stacy was her own character, with her own life

While Peter Parker’s grief and trauma are the driving force for Spider-Man: Blue‘s story, the series takes the time to bring Gwen Stacy some depth outside of her connection to the titular hero. Throughout the series, she is seen hanging out with Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn. As readers, we see how she’s their friend just as much as Peter is. Heck, more so when you consider Peter’s hardly around. (Because, you know, he’s always busy taking photos of Spider-Man.)

It’s obvious how adored she is and how much of a sharp wit she wields. She frequently verbally spars with Flash Thompson and always takes him down a peg when he’s acting obnoxious. He may be the star jock, but that means squat to Gwen freaking Stacy. 

And with Mary Jane, Loeb and Sale don’t bore readers with a cliché rivalry that could be seen coming a mile away. Readers don’t spend six issues watching Gwen and Mary Jane arguing and bickering for Peter’s attention. Instead, they are genuinely friendly with one another. Sure, they express some jealousy. But they are also frequently seen having fun together. They laugh and dance together; they hang out with each other with or without Peter being there.

Spider-Man: Blue shows that Gwen Stacy was a person loved by all. She wasn’t just Peter Parker’s girlfriend. She was a person who brought a smile to all those around her. When she died, Peter lost someone he loved, and people like Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, and Mary Jane lost a dear friend.

In the end, Spider-Man: Blue is just as much Gwen Stacy’s story as it is Peter Parker’s and some early lines from the beginning of the series perfectly encapsulate that. While Spider-Man is swinging by the site of her death on Valentine’s Day, he places a rose and thinks about why he comes there every year.

“It’s about ing someone who was so important to me I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. I didn’t know that meant she would only get to spend the rest of her life with me.”

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is about eight months away, at least, and we’re already getting teases about the insanity that writer/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller have in store.

Apparently, Gwen Stacy will face off with a few of her own variants in the trilogy-capper, despite that — checks notes — all the Spider-people are technically variants of each other, right? So haven’t we been seeing variants of Spider-Gwen this entire time? “Yes, of Spider-Gwen, but not of Gwen Stacy,” someone wearing a pocket protector is presumably saying aloud while reading this. Okay, then.

According to The Direct, Lord and Miller recently shared some information about the animated threequel on the Crew Call with Anthony D’Alessandro podcast. When asked if we would see more than one Gwen Stacy in Beyond the Spider-Verse, Lord said, “Currently, yes,” adding that the idea is at least “on the page.” However, Miller cautioned, “These things evolve as they go.”

Lord added he’s “very excited about” one of the Gwen variants. Miller said to his partner, “I know exactly the one you’re talking about. … [I]t is sort of plot-integral, I would say.”

Great, except it sounds as if they’re still at the stage of development where a “plot-integral” character who’s “on the page” might not make it into the “evolving” final product. This begs the question of whether Beyond the Spider-Verse is coming out next March, given that they still have to record dialogue and design obscenely complicated animation for an entire movie.

Even Hailee Steinfeld, the actor who voices Gwen Stacy, recently itted that she hadn’t recorded any lines yet for Beyond, suggesting the need for reality-breaking antics to get this movie done on time.

Don’t blame us for being on edge about this: We’d be fine waiting another few years for the movie if Across the Spider-Verse didn’t end on a cliffhanger that sent us into the parking lot swearing under our breath. We’re pretty sure some little kids in Spidey T-shirts heard us, and we’re not proud of it, okay? We just really need some closure on this.

Out of the many Spider-Man characters that have been introduced over the years, Gwen Stacy might be one of the most underrated. Traditionally introduced as Peter Parker’s first love, Gwen’s fate was a tragic one, doomed to die at the hands of the Green Goblin. Originally, Gwen was written to be Peter’s main love interest before the comic’s writers decided to kill her off; Stan Lee put it best: “No matter how we wrote it, Mary Jane always seemed more interesting.”

That’s no longer always the case. Different versions of Gwen Stacy have been utilized in several Spider-Man films and TV series, and her most recent iteration as Spider-Woman in the Spider-Verse films has brought newfound appreciation to the character.

Though I’m of the mind that Gwen has always been cool, not every portrayal is created equal. From mild-mannered high school student to a feisty alternate-reality version, every actress who has had the chance to play Gwen Stacy has brought something different to the role. In order from not-so-great to the very best, let’s take a look at the different Gwens throughout the years.

9. Lily Sanfelippo (Spidey and his Amazing Friends)

This show is aimed toward a pre-school audience so it almost feels unfair to put it on this list, but it is the least enjoyable Gwen Stacy. This isn’t through any fault of Sanfelippo’s; this is just a very juvenile version of the character, tasked with solving juvenile problems like rescuing puppies and making friends.

8. Mary Kay Bergman (Spider-Man: The Animated Series)

Gwen Stacy appeared in Spider-Man: The Animated Series for only one episode but she really made an impact. The early Spider-Man cartoons mostly focused on Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane Watson, and this series was no exception. Shortly before the series ended, Peter encounters Gwen of another dimension, one where she’s engaged to a billionaire Peter. This Gwen proves feisty, saving Peter and a bunch of civilians from a creepy version of Spider-Man. Sadly, she’s only in the one episode so we never got to see much of this Gwen.

7. Bryce Dallas Howard (Spider-Man 3)

I know why people dislike this version of Gwen Stacy but I truly don’t think she’s that bad; she’s just not given much to work with. Bryce Dallas Howard starred as the first version of Gwen to grace the big screen and doesn’t serve much purpose in the film other than to add conflict between Peter and Mary Jane. I’d argue this isn’t really Gwen’s fault (she even apologized to Mary Jane when all was said and done) but this does feel like an instance where an important character was just shoved into the plot. This Gwen seemed very sweet but unfortunately, she didn’t get to do much.

6. Emily Tennant (Marvel Super Hero Adventures)

I know, I know — I just complained about another Playhouse Disney Spider-Man series, but in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, Gwen Stacy actually has stuff to do. As Ghost Spider, Emily Tennant voices a very competent hero who seems assured of herself and is kind to civilians. It’s not much, but it is better than the other Gwens we’ve seen thus far.

5. Lacy Chabert (The Spectacular Spider-Man)

Lacy Chabert (who famously tried to make “fetch” happen in Mean Girls) plays Gwen in this short-lived cartoon series. In The Spectacular Spider-Man, Gwen is close friends with both Harry Osborn and Peter Parker and harbors feelings for the latter. Despite him feeling the same, the two never have the opportunity to be a couple as they both end up in relationships with other people. Aside from her romance storylines, this Gwen is notable for being a fairly accurate portrayal of the original comic version. Sadly, The Spectacular Spider-Man was cancelled after only two seasons so this is all the Gwen we’ll see from this series.

4. Dove Cameron (Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister 6/Marvel Rising specials)

In both Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister 6 and the Marvel Rising Disney XD specials, Dove Cameron plays a stellar version of the Gwen most familiar to fans of Into the Spider-Verse. This Gwen moonlights as Ghost Spider, fighting crime by night and playing drums in her band during the day. It’s a delicate act to balance and Cameron does a good job playing the character in a story that follows her Ghost Spider comic book origins. This Gwen also got to bust out her singing skills during a Battle of the Bands after fighting alongside the Secret Warriors, which was cool to watch.

3. Laura Bailey (Marvel’s Spider-Man)

Marvel’s Spider-Man premiered in 2017 and followed a ton of familiar faces for Spider-Man fans. Alongside Peter Parker, his other genius-level classmates at Horizon High include Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales, Harry Osborn, and Anya Corazon. In this series, Laura Bailey plays Gwen Stacy, who realizes her own powers as Ghost-Spider during the first season. The show combines some aspects of her Spider-Verse counterpart while also adding some twists, like changing her relationship to the villain The Jackal. I enjoy the show’s focus on how intelligent Gwen is as well as not forcing a romantic plotline between her and Peter.

2. Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man)

Although some fans were not happy with Sony’s choice to reboot the live-action Spider-Man films, even harsh critics found themselves impressed by Emma Stone’s performance as Peter’s first love. Staying relatively true to the comic books, this Gwen is Peter’s academic competition, even becoming valedictorian of their graduating class. The two even fight crime together so to speak, as he reveals his secret identity to her pretty early on and she helps him improve his tech. Tragically, Gwen’s fate is also true to the comics and even more heartbreaking to watch on the big screen.

1. Hailee Steinfeld (Into the Spider-Verse)

After first appearing in Into the Spider-Verse in 2018, Hailee Steinfeld’s version of the character has easily become the most popular Gwen Stacy so far. As “Spider-Gwen,” she was the one to be bitten by a radioactive spider in her universe and tragically, she can’t save her friend Peter Parker from suffering a fate like many a Gwen Stacy has in the comics. This Gwen is both very cool and very accessible and it’s hard not to root to her, even when she’s lying to Miles. No spoilers for the recently released Across the Spider-Verse, but Gwen is also the focus of some beautifully animated scenes, and an obvious pick for number one on this list.

MCU fans are in a frenzy after Hailee Steinfeld dropped hints suggesting that the release of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse may be facing a possible delay.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, when asked about providing her voice role for the film, Steinfeld appeared nervous and clarified that she had actually yet to record a single word. She explained that prioritizing the success of the current movie has been the main priority:

“Uh, nope! As you can imagine, this has been an ongoing thing since the moment the first one came out. There’s been so much focus, and everyone’s blood, sweat, and tears has been put into making this the most incredible and best version of itself that it can be.”

As one of the fan-favorite voice of Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen in the first two films in the franchise, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Steinfeld’s remarks did not go over well once they hit social media. The fandom erupted in a digital uproar in response to a tweet paraphrasing Steinfeld’s comment. Their eagerness to see the next installment of the animated film series left them sorely disappointed. 

The ominous comment that it took four years to record Gwen’s vocals for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse convinced some fans that there was little chance that the film could make its scheduled release date of March 29, 2024. Instead, they felt an alarming sense that there might not be another Spider-Verse film until 2027. 

The situation has taken a turn for the worse as it has emerged that the movie’s directors are so enthralled by the success of Across the Spider-Verse that they are not actively working on the next project.

Some fans were completely freaked out by the speculation about the next release.

Other diehards were unhappy about the news but insisted they preferred quality over quantity.

Another fan pointed out that it will all come down to preparation.

Steinfeld’s comments have webheads on the edge of their seats, anxiously awaiting news about the project, and it’s abundantly clear how deeply invested fans are in the Spider-Man spin-off franchise. Whether it hits the mark of its 2024 release date or not, there’s no doubt it will be worth the wait.

It’s neither a secret nor a surprise that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been flying so high; with the already inch-perfect foundation provided by its predecessor, all the sequel had to do was wear its heart on its sleeve louder than ever before, and the result was one of unprecedented magic.

Indeed, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 may have steadied the comic book movie ship, but Across the Spider-Verse turned it into a plane, and among the film’s many proponents is a legacy member of the Spider-Man multiverse itself.

Like most everyone who’s seen Across the Spider-Verse, Bryce Dallas Howard had nothing but the best to say about the second outing of Miles Morales and company; the actress took up the mantle of Gwen Stacy herself back in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, and she ended the shout out by piling onto the train of impatience for Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Of course, Howard’s Gwen Stacy is a far cry from the one voiced by Hailee Steinfeld in Across the Spider-Verse, with the latter not only effectively being a second protagonist, but taking up arms in the conflict herself as Spider-Woman. And, if certain theories are to be believed, the differences don’t stop there.

Across the Spider-Verse continues the plight of Miles Morales, whose combined responsibilities as Spider-Man and a teenager are beginning to weigh on him quite heavily, and when his old friend Gwen Stacy tracks him down, he quickly winds up getting involved with the Spider-Society, an organization of Spider-Men from across the multiverse who seek to keep the timelines in balance. With interpersonal, internal, and external, multiverse-threatening problems to contend with, Miles is in for quite the ride.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now playing in theaters.

Grab your web slingers and your favorite high tops because Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in theaters now, and the characters aren’t just here to tell a continued and beloved story; they’re going to steal a piece of your heart as we explore the Spider-Verse alongside Miles Morales.

One of the characters sure to stick with you the most is that of Gwen Stacy, voice acted by the talented Hailee Steinfeld. Gwen isn’t just an essential piece of Morales’ story, she’s an integral piece of the Spider-Verse as a whole, and someone fans will get to know on a deeper level.

Steinfeld says that the latest installment of her journey as Gwen allowed her to appreciate the character more in growing together and enjoying the depth of the story that Gwen navigates. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said the following about deepening that connection:

“It was, actually, [because] I was never given a script in its entirety. I felt this way about the first film, but seeing [Across the Spider-Verse] just a few weeks ago was like reading the script for the first time. So, realizing that this film does open with a lot of Gwen’s story was really special to see. But knowing what I did throughout the process, we dug a little deeper into who she is and why she is the way she is, and it’s a big evolution from where she was in the first one. I’ve always loved this character, but I love her so much more in this film from what we learn about her.”

Steinfeld isn’t the only one who really loves the new light in which we see Gwen; Across the Spider-Verse is allowing many fans to reignite their love affair with comic book films and to root for heroes that are down-to-earth, real, and vulnerable. Gwen is a multifaceted character, and she will undoubtedly resonate with fans and carve out a special place in all of our hearts, just as she did with Steinfeld herself.

Oh, and without giving too much away, Steinfeld also touches on an emotional part of Gwen’s journey that you’ll likely need tissues to get through.

“I was able to be in the room with Shea Whigham when we did those scenes. We had already done them on our own to each other’s readings, but then the filmmakers brought us in to do it together. So I kind of loved that in a way because I already knew it really well. A lot of the time, we’ll get the material just a few days before, if that, so I got to live with it and have a really clear understanding of Gwen and where she was coming from in those scenes with her dad. But they are very emotional and very moving.”

Emotional and moving: two words that describe not just Gwen’s journey with her father but the ever-expansive Spider-Verse as a whole. You can see Steinfeld, or rather — hear her as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in theaters now.

WARNING: This article contains mild spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

In a story as inclusive as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with Black, Asian, queer, and disabled Spider-People, it makes perfect sense for the male and female leads to be representing minorities; Miles as an Afro-Latino superhero and Gwen Stacy as a transgender woman, apparently. It’s been long speculated that Gwen Stacy is, in fact, transgender. But evidence present in Across the Spider-Verse seems to confirm those rumors, even if Sony won’t come out and say it.

Whether she is or she isn’t doesn’t impact the story that much, but it would be a nice little nod to the trans community if it were true, especially to have such a high profile superhero confirmed as a member of the LGBTQ+ minority. That would be big points for representation on Sony’s part, but we’ve yet to have any official word on the matter yet. It’s still early, though, so let’s not count out these grouchy corporations just yet.

Some of the evidence seems to derive from Stacy’s interactions with her father, who seems in full of Gwen’s identity, if that’s what it turns out to be. Viewers have spotted a trans flag on Gwen’s father’s jacket, as well as a “protect trans kids” poster on Stacy’s wall. So she’s either a strong ally or she’s trans herself and showing her true colors with pride. Whatever the case may be, we’re just grateful to see trans inclusivity.

It’s also worth noting that Gwen’s color scheme strongly resembles the trans colors with sharp blues, whites and pinks. This is in contrast to Miles’ reds, blues, and blacks. She’s certainly a walking trans flag, so it’s no wonder that Spider-Man fans are crafting their own headcanons. These theories didn’t exactly come out of thin air.

Another says “everything” about Stacy is “a metaphor” for the trans community, so she’s essentially a walking beacon for like-minded individuals. again, none of this is gospel, nor does it have any real foundations outside of mere rumors, but we can dream, can’t we?

Decide for yourself as Spider-Man:Across the Spider-Verse is showing in theaters now.

Even if podcasts aren’t your cup of tea, there’s a strong likelihood that you’ve heard of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, hosted by Josh Horowitz. Getting “nerdy and intimate” with the biggest movie stars, according to the podcast’s official description, Horowitz has rubbed elbows with some famous names in his time – the latest of which was Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Kate Bishop in the MCU.

As we know, Steinfeld recently starred in the Disney Plus series Hawkeye alongside Jeremy Renner. What some Marvel fans might not know, however, is that Steinfeld also voices a rather famous Spider-Person in Sony’s own Spider-Verse — none other than Gwen Stacy. You’ll have heard her voice in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and, more recently, Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel showing in some theaters from today and releasing worldwide tomorrow, June 2. She stars alongside Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales, Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man who finds himself warped into the Spider-Verse, crossing paths with all the Spider-People from different dimensions.

Horowitz sat down with Steinfeld to discuss her role in Across the Spider-Verse, as well as touching on the possibility of bringing a live-action Gwen Stacy to the MCU, ideally to partner with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. What with Jeremy Renner out of action following a snow plough incident, the MCU might be looking to recast its Hawkeye, so the likelihood of another season is slim, albeit way down the pipeline. That’s not all bad news, though, as it leaves the door wide open for Steinfeld to explore her part-time career as Spider-Man’s best friend.

In the above interview, Horowitz asked Steinfeld if she would feel “robbed” if her character (Gwen Stacy) didn’t interact with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Zendaya’s MJ. After a dramatic pause, Steinfeld answered with a simple “yeah,” which had Horowitz splitting his sides. “Thank you for your honesty,” Josh replies.

Afterward, Horowitz quizzed the actress on how many Spider-Men she’d encountered in her career, referring to the actors that have played them, which would be Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland primarily, but also includes any animated Spider-Men or spin-off actors. Steinfeld mentioned that she knew Maguire, Garfield, and Moore (obviously), but has yet to meet Tom Holland.

“I have not met Tom,” she started. “But I’d like to. Maybe that hasn’t happened for a reason.” And that’s when she started to get tight-lipped about the whole thing. “I’m just saying,” she said.

So, there you have it. Maybe there’s a future in store for Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy, but with her already playing Kate Bishop, wouldn’t that be a bit confusing? Ah, stranger things have happened. Let’s see where it leads.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swings into theaters worldwide tomorrow.