Unlike a lot of superheroes, Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales didn’t have to learn the ropes of being a superhero during the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He was mentored by some Spider-heroes from other universes, including Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker. Although Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 will chronicle the next chapter of Miles’ cinematic journey, it hasn’t been confirmed yet if the older Peter will be taking part in the sequel, Johnson will be disappointed if his character doesn’t jump back into action.
To be clear, so far the signs point to Peter B. Parker participating in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2, as Jake Johnson said last month that he was working on a contract to reprise his role. Nevertheless, the New Girl actor made it clear that he’d be let down if he didn’t get to return for the next animated Spider-Man movie, saying:
I’ll be pretty heartbroken if I don’t get to play Peter B. Parker again. He's a character who- I don’t think his story’s over. I would like to know what happens to him.
Jake Johnson also mentioned in his interview with The Daily Beast that the role of Peter B. Parker “was one of the best written pieces I’ve ever had,” and that he was “honored” to play the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Johnson also recently told CinemaBlend that while he’s not “passionate” about the Spider-Man franchise as a whole, he’s heavily invested in what’s happening in the Spider-Verse corner. If he and Sony have been working out the details of a new deal, it’s probably safe to say that barring any extreme developments, we’ll be hearing him again as Peter B. Parker, who’s over a decade older than his deceased counterpart from Miles’ universe.
When we met Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, he was in a rough period, having lost his Aunt May and separated from Mary Jane Watson, among other life complications. But following his time alongside Miles Morales and the movie’s other Spider-heroes, Peter returned to his reality in a healthier state of mind, and we watched him take the first step to repairing his relationship with MJ. Wherever we find him in the sequel, presumably he won’t hesitate to help Miles deal with whatever multiversal threat has reared its head this time around.
While no plot details for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 have been revealed yet, Hailee Steinfeld will also be back as Gwen Stacy, the Spider-Woman of her reality who found a way to contact Miles across dimensions after the first movie’s main story wrapped up. We’ll also meet Issa Rae’s Jessica Drew, a Spider-Woman from another universe, as well as Takuya Yamashiro, known best from the 1970s live-action Japanese Spider-Man TV series. Behind the scenes, Joaquin Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson are directing Into the Spider-Verse 2, and David Callaham, Phil Lord and Chris Miller wrote the script.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 will spin its web in theaters on October 7, 2022, and check out our 2022 release schedule to learn what other movies will arrive next year. Jake Johnson can currently be seen starring opposite D’Arcy Carden, J.K. Simmons and Susan Sarandon in Ride the Eagle.
