Andy Samberg Is Playing A Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse
Andy Samberg will voice Ben Reily, the popular clone of Peter Parker, in Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse.
Live from New York, it’s your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The official Twitter account for the upcoming film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse revealed the voice actors behind some of the movie’s new characters, including Saturday Night Live alum Andy Samberg as Ben Reilly, otherwise known as the Scarlet Spider.
Ben Reilly is a clone of Peter Parker created by Miles Warren, a mad scientist who goes by the criminal alias The Jackal. Warren created the clone to fight Spider-Man, and the character seemingly died in the same issue he was introduced back in 1975.
Reilly returned in the 90s for the Clone Saga and became the Scarlet Spider, a beloved Spider-Man alternative with way more existential dread and the record for deaths and resurrections in the Marvel universe (yes, he beats out Jean Grey).
Andy Samberg had been rumored to have a role in Across the Spider-Verse, and the rumors appear true. Samberg is known for portraying outrageous and silly characters, so his take on the tormented Ben Reilly ought to be fascinating.
Ben Reilly has appeared in animation before, prominently featured in episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series and Ultimate Spider-Man. Now the character will once again get the animation treatment in Sony’s epic Spidey sequel.
Andy Samberg is joined by an expansive cast of web-slinging additions to the Spider-Verse. Also featured on the film’s Twitter account were franchise newcomers Issa Rae as Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), Karan Soni as Spider-Man India, Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk, and Amandla Stenberg as Spider-Byte.
The new Spider-Man variants will swing into action with returning characters Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, Gwen Stacy, played by Hailee Steinfeld, and Peter B. Parker, voiced by Jake Johnson. Oscar Isaac will reprise his role from the first film’s post-credit scene as Miguel O’Hara, otherwise known as the fan favorite Spider-Man 2099.
Andy Samberg and the rest of the web-heads are on track to spin up quite the opening for Across the Spider-Verse. Projections reported by Variety have the film on track for an $80 million opening weekend, more than double the first film’s opening frame.
For Andy Samberg, the role is the latest in his growing list of animation credits. He has voiced roles in four Hotel Transylvania films, Storks, and episodes of Adventure Time, The Awesomes, and Bob’s Burgers. He lent his voice to Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and its sequel, and he leads the Comedy Central cartoon series Digman!
In addition to Across the Spider-Verse, Andy Samberg will appear in the upcoming film Lee. The biographical drama stars Kate Winslet as Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller, a fashion model turned war correspondent during World War II. Samberg is also set to appear opposite Jean Smart in the offbeat romantic comedy 42.6.
The quirky comedy from I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie follows a man who is accidentally awakened from a cryogenic sleep after 42.6 years, only to find that he wants his ex-girlfriend back. But his time as a popsicle kept him from aging, paving a tricky path forward for the out-of-time romance.
Andy Samberg will debut as the Scarlet Spider this weekend when Across the Spider-Verse finally hits theaters nearly five years after its predecessor. The animation spectacle has a stellar voice cast to match its dazzling visuals. With greats like Andy Samberg in the lineup, the film has a good shot at living up to the hype.
