Spider-Gwen And Jessica Drew Will Have A 'Special Relationship' In Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

When Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) first swung into theaters back in 2018, he delivered a powerful message as the newest Spider-Man: "Anyone can wear the mask." Soon, the web-slinging teen will make his grand return to our lives in "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse," easily one of the most anticipated movies of 2023. And once again, he won't be alone. There will be plenty of other masked-up Spider heroes to help save the day, with a much more complicated lesson to teach. "It's how you wear the mask that matters," according to Spider-Verse writer-producers, Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. And Miles won't be the only hero figuring out what that means.

The two-part sequel (which includes 2024's "Beyond the Spider-Verse") is said to introduce upwards of 240 characters, many of them different takes on the titular Spidey. But how many of them will actually be front and center, as main characters alongside Miles? We know a few things for sure: Hailee Steinfeld is returning as the voice of Spider-Gwen and reuniting with Miles for a journey across the multiverse. Along the way, they'll be crossing paths will all sorts of Spider-People, including the incredibly badass-looking Jessica Drew (Issa Rae). And there's no way a character that cool doesn't have a major art to play in this story! In fact, Lord and Miller have come right out and said that Rae's Spider-Woman will be making waves in this story, especially when it comes to her relationship with Gwen.

In a video posted to the movie's Twitter account, the co-creators revealed an exclusive image of the Spider-Woman design and discussed the importance of her relationship with Gwen.

"What's cool about Gwen is that she has a special relationship with Jess because she sees her as a potential mentor, someone who seems to have it all figured out, but learns ultimately, it's hard."

Jessica Drew played by @IssaRae has arrived and is cooler than ever.

ICYMI: The Spider-Man: Across the #SpiderVerse Official Trailer Afterparty revealed tons of exclusive information. Head to the @SonyPictures YouTube channel to check it out now: https://t.co/XKwQwfJy2V pic.twitter.com/kBB2I0bmR9

— Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (@SpiderVerse) January 10, 2023

Step aside, Peter B. Parker, there's a new mentor in town! And just like the "thwip-and-release" master had a bit of a learning curve when it came to teaching his mentee the ropes of heroism, it sounds like Jessica Drew will hit a few bumps in the road too. The film's official synopsis is our biggest hint at what that may be: the story involves Miles, Gwen, and a "team of Spider-People charged with protecting [the Multiverse]" who not only cross paths but "clash on how to handle a new threat," which pits them against the other Spideys. Based on how the trailer seems to align Jessica Drew with Oscar Isaac's antagonistic Spider-Man 2099, it might be that difference in philosophy that complicates her relationship with Gwen.

Much like Miles and Peter B. Parker in the first film, it sounds like Gwen and Jess will come to understand that being a veteran Spider-Person (and an adult, at that) doesn't mean having it all figured out. Whatever moral crisis sends this gang of Spider-People spiraling, I'm guessing that recognizing their mistakes will play a major part in moving forward.

Beyond that hint of mentorship for Gwen, Lord and Miller don't reveal much about the plot of the upcoming film but they do point out a detail that many fans have already taken note of. Revealing the image of Spider-Woman, Miller says, "You may notice that she is pregnant, which is based on a run of the comics where she was pregnant during the Secret Wars." As if she wasn't enough of a badass already, Jessica Drew will be swinging through the multiverse and pulling off incredible motorcycle stunts while pregnant. She may still have a lot to learn when it comes to mentoring a web-slinging teen, but if there's anything we can count on, it's yet another Spider-Person eventually finding their way.

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is set to hit theaters on June 2, 2023.