How Cinderella Made It Into ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is absolutely thrilling audiences all over the world and gaining high critical praise. The movie is being admired for its amazing action, expert storytelling, and breathtaking animation. The cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Shameik Moore, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Jake Johnson, and more!

“Perfect” doesn’t begin to describe SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE. What you witness in this is some of the most wonderfully creative, visually dazzling filmmaking you could imagine seeing. A masterful accomplishment in animation. What a movie. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse

"Perfect" doesn't begin to describe SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE. What you witness in this is some of the most wonderfully creative, visually dazzling filmmaking you could imagine seeing. A masterful accomplishment in animation. What a movie. #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/hVxUMdl4s6

— Shaurya Chawla (@_ShauryaChawla) June 1, 2023

How Across the Spider-Verse Included Disney’s Cinderella

The New York Times broke down all the inspiration and influences the directors used in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. They note that the sequel drew from varying sources, “like Leonardo da Vinci to the movie ‘Say Anything.'” Audiences will notice that one classic Disney Princess has a big role to play in one of Gwen Stacy/ Spider-Gwen’s (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) most pivotal scenes.

So how exactly does Disney’s 1950 animated classic Cinderella show up in the Marvel Comics Universe? The New York Times explains that “Gwen’s world functions like a mood ring that reacts to her emotions.” For instance, a red aesthetic represents her anger, and fragmented colors immerse audiences in her overwhelming confusion.

Here’s how Justin K. Thompson, one of the film’s three directors, explains the reference.

As a kid, I remember seeing the scene when Cinderella’s dress is being torn apart by the evil stepsisters, and the backgrounds and the environment start reacting to this emotional trauma that she’s going through. 

As a result, he wanted Gwen’s environment to be similarly emotionally reactive, evoking a more visceral movie-watching experience. Therefore, the shifting colors and temperatures in Gwen Stacy’s world come from Cinderella herself. Can you feel Cinderella’s dress being torn apart by her stepsisters during Gwen’s emotional scene with her dad?

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is also directed by Joaquim Dos Santos and Kemp Powers. This sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) follows Spider-Man Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy across the Multiverse. They clash with a team of Spider-People about how to protect the Multiverse, and Miles is forced to redefine what it means to be a hero.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently in theaters and runs 2 hours and 16 minutes.