User blog:ARTaylor/SDCC's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Panel

Sony Pictures Entertainment held a panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con. The panel included Miles Morales actor Shameik Moore, Peter Parker actor Jake Johnson, Gwen Stacy actress Hailee Steinfeld, producers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and director Peter Ramsey.

The panel officially announced the additions of Nicolas Cage, Kimiko Glenn, and John Mulaney to the cast. Cage, as previously rumored, is playing the Noir Spider-Man. Glenn, known for her work on Orange is the New Black and Waitress, is playing the anime-inspired Spider-Woman known as Peni Parker. Mulaney, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, is playing the anthropomorphic animal Spider-Ham.

Miller and Lord stated the reason to make the movie was to tell Miles' story. They also felt that doing an animated film would be a great way to make the comic books come to life. Miller said, "This is the best opportunity ever to tell a story that actually looked like a comic book, like you were walking into a comic book. We wanted to make a totally unique experience that felt like you were walking into a three dimensional comic book."

Ramsey said of the project, "Comics fans have known Miles for a while, but the world at large doesn't know him. They don't have experience dealing with a new character in this mantle."

They talked about their version of Peter Parker. The panel described him as older and wearier. Johnson said of his character, "This is Peter Parker at forty. This is Peter with a bad back who doesn't know if he wants to be Spider-Man anymore, and then he meets Miles who needs a mentor and Peter doesn't really want to be a mentor but he sees something really special in this guy." He explained this version is different than the younger version seen in the comics and other adaptations, such as Tom Holland in the Marvel Studios films.

Talking about the relationship between Peter and Miles, Moore said, "Miles just needs a teacher. I'm like, hey dude, I need you to teach me." Johnson added that Peter isn't interested but Miles is "just so persistent."

Steinfeld said Gwen's relationship to the two Spider-Man is different. But since all three are born of tragedy they know they're going through it together. Lord said, "They finally have a tribe they can hang out with."

Afterwards, Sony released a new image featuring an unmasked Gwen, Peter, and Miles having their Spider-Sense tingling.