One of the standout features of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is undoubtedly its diverse cast of Spider-people. The production team had the task of carefully selecting and casting actors to portray different iterations of the superhero. Among them is the talented English actor Daniel Kaluuya, known for his role in Nope and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who lends his voice to the rebellious Spider-Man known as Spider-Punk.
An exclusive screening of Across the Spider-Verse was held by Collider and IMAX. During the Q&A session, Joaquim Dos Santos, co-director of the film, discussed the casting process. Dos Santos revealed that choosing Kaluuya for the role was an obvious choice. In his previous notable performances, Kaluuya portrayed American characters, and audiences have become accustomed to hearing him speak with an American accent. Therefore, Dos Santos thought it would be intriguing to have the Academy Award winner showcase his talent by using a distinct British accent in a major blockbuster film.
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Why was Daniel Kaluuya Cast As Spider-Punk?
According to co-directors Kemp Powers and Joaquim Dos Santos, Daniel Kaluuya was their top choice to voice Spider-Punk in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Even during the character’s early design phase, Kaluuya’s voice was on their minds. In an interview with Total Film Magazine, Powers explained that Kaluuya perfectly embodies the essence of Spider-Punk, partly because of his British accent.
Powers expressed his admiration for Kaluuya’s Camden accent, stating, “He’s a punk-rock poster come to life, and I love Daniel Kaluuya’s Camden accent.” The actor’s voice became synonymous with the character as they were shaping his appearance.
“Daniel Kaluuya is, I think, one of our great actors of our generation. I was surprised, honestly. You know, when I think of Daniel Kaluuya I think of him speaking in an American accent. We watched these interviews with him and it was just him doing this on a talk show, and we set that against the visuals of Spider-Punk as he was being developed, and just seeing a stagnant image of Spider-Punk set to his voice, it jumped off the page. So, yeah, I could hear the guy talk all day long. I’m gonna understand probably, like, two out of every five words that he says, but I’ll listen to it all day long.”
Kaluuya’s portrayal of Spider-Punk has generated widespread attention and has become a source of memorable quotes throughout the year.
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This version of Spider-Man represents the influential punk-rock movement that originated in the United Kingdom before making a global impact. Spider-Punk’s enthusiasm for anarchy, along with his witty remarks about capitalism and oppression, adds a comedic and untamed dynamic to the Spider-team.
Spider-Punk Is Part Of 2023’s Biggest Box Office Opening Day
Sony Pictures Entertainment unveiled the anticipated new trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on December 12, 2022. The trailer showcases a diverse range of Spider-People, including the spirited Spider-Punk. The sequel follows the thrilling journey of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man, voiced by Shameik Moore, who teams up with the dynamic Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman, portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld. Together, they face off against the formidable villain, The Spot, played by Jason Schwartzman.
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Sony’s animated superhero film has made a significant impact, capturing the top spot and exceeding all expectations. Across the Spider-Verse is poised for a remarkable debut weekend, with projected earnings exceeding $110 million. Its opening day on Friday was exceptionally successful, grossing an impressive $51.7 million, making it the highest-grossing opening day of the year. Notably, this figure includes a remarkable $17.3 million collected from Thursday previews alone.
This substantial debut would represent a nearly threefold increase compared to its predecessor, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, released in 2018. The original film earned $35 million during its opening weekend, a milestone surpassed by Across the Spider-Verse on its very first day. Additionally, the sequel has already garnered nearly $15 million from international territories within the first two days of release, resulting in an impressive early global total of $65 million.
Source: CBR
