As the Spider-Verse films and the MCU's Multiverse Saga have taught us, there exist universes upon universes, each of which is brimming with infinite possibilities and myriad interpretations. But, in this expansive multiverse of creativity, there’s one film that’s pulled off a coup of epic proportions, leaving fans and critics alike in a state of awe and incredulity: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Delving into this fascinating narrative, we find ourselves in a web of discovery, unearthing hidden layers of this cinematic triumph that go beyond the ordinary. The riddle that’s got everyone's Spidey-Senses tingling is the intriguing existence of multiple versions of the film, each offering a slightly different take on the narrative, complete with varying animations and alternate jokes.
This secret, better guarded than the Queen's jewels, was first unraveled by the vigilant @balisonqs on Twitter.
I was wondering when people might start noticing… https://t.co/E6G9tUXmDE
— Andy! Leviton (@AlliterAndy) June 23, 2023
Observing two different scenes featuring Oscar Isaac's Spider-Man 2099 interacting with his assistant, Lyla, this eagle-eyed detective found that in one version, Lyla points at Miguel, while in another, she dons a playful bunny filter for a selfie. But the differences don't stop there. As soon as this went on Twitter, other users have since shared their thoughts about what's being shown in their area, paving the way to conversations that Sony is messing with audiences.
The ripples of these discoveries have traveled through the labyrinthine channels of social media, surfacing on TikTok as well as spawning Reddit threads and invoking plenty of animated debates on Twitch streams.
More importantly, what was once dismissed as wild conjecture or misremembered cinematic trivia is now an acknowledged reality, confirmed by none other than the film's associate editor, Andrew Leviton, as he went on Twitter to say, "I was wondering when people might start noticing..."
Leviton's sly confirmation turned the tide, thrusting this intriguing cinematic experiment into the limelight. As fans bought another ticket, eager to uncover every subtle alteration, the film catapulted past the $500 million mark worldwide, which surpassed its predecessor, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, by over $100 million.
One can't help but wonder about the motivation behind this bold move. Could this be a shrewd marketing strategy, meant to lure ardent fans back into the cinema to discover the nuances of each version? Or perhaps, in true Spider-Verse fashion, it's a meta-commentary on the subtleties of the multiverse, where worlds can exist with minute yet significant variations.
As the dust begins to settle on this revelation, Sony, the puppet master behind this grand spectacle, has yet to comment. Was the release of the enhanced audio mix, which coincided with some versions' launch, a cunning sleight of hand to divert attention? Or was it simply another thread in the intricate web of this multi-version narrative?
At this point, only Sony knows the truth. Of course, this hasn't stopped fans from comparing notes.
With the home release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse not far off, we'll find out soon enough how many different versions of the film are out there and which one is considered as "Canon".
