Grab your web slingers and your favorite high tops because Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in theaters now, and the characters aren’t just here to tell a continued and beloved story; they’re going to steal a piece of your heart as we explore the Spider-Verse alongside Miles Morales.
One of the characters sure to stick with you the most is that of Gwen Stacy, voice acted by the talented Hailee Steinfeld. Gwen isn’t just an essential piece of Morales’ story, she’s an integral piece of the Spider-Verse as a whole, and someone fans will get to know on a deeper level.
Steinfeld says that the latest installment of her journey as Gwen allowed her to appreciate the character more in growing together and enjoying the depth of the story that Gwen navigates. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said the following about deepening that connection:
“It was, actually, [because] I was never given a script in its entirety. I felt this way about the first film, but seeing [Across the Spider-Verse] just a few weeks ago was like reading the script for the first time. So, realizing that this film does open with a lot of Gwen’s story was really special to see. But knowing what I did throughout the process, we dug a little deeper into who she is and why she is the way she is, and it’s a big evolution from where she was in the first one. I’ve always loved this character, but I love her so much more in this film from what we learn about her.”
Steinfeld isn’t the only one who really loves the new light in which we see Gwen; Across the Spider-Verse is allowing many fans to reignite their love affair with comic book films and to root for heroes that are down-to-earth, real, and vulnerable. Gwen is a multifaceted character, and she will undoubtedly resonate with fans and carve out a special place in all of our hearts, just as she did with Steinfeld herself.
Oh, and without giving too much away, Steinfeld also touches on an emotional part of Gwen’s journey that you’ll likely need tissues to get through.
“I was able to be in the room with Shea Whigham when we did those scenes. We had already done them on our own to each other’s readings, but then the filmmakers brought us in to do it together. So I kind of loved that in a way because I already knew it really well. A lot of the time, we’ll get the material just a few days before, if that, so I got to live with it and have a really clear understanding of Gwen and where she was coming from in those scenes with her dad. But they are very emotional and very moving.”
Emotional and moving: two words that describe not just Gwen’s journey with her father but the ever-expansive Spider-Verse as a whole. You can see Steinfeld, or rather — hear her as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in theaters now.