Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versewas full of alternate versions of the web-slinging hero. However, there was a multiversal variant of Gwen Stacy, and most fans likely didn’t even realize it.
WhileGwen Stacy isn’t the only Spider-Woman, she’s unique because Gwen Stacy usually exists as a friend and love interest ofSpider-Man, rather than being a superpowered hero herself. Instead of simply replacing Peter Parker as a Spider-Person, Spider-Gwen gets powers instead of him in her universe. Because of this, Peter Parker is the one who meets the tragic fate usually reserved for Gwen Stacy - an early death that haunts the hero for years.
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Many fans may believe the Gwen Stacy acting as a co-protagonist inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis the only Gwen in the movie; that assumption is wrong. On his Twitter account, artistKris Ankashared designs he made for Gayatri Singh duringSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’s production. In the post, he specified that when designing Gayatri, he included hints of Gwen Stacy’s style. These hints tend to come through pops of teal and flannel shirts, both of which harken back to Gwen’s style in theSpider-Gwencomics.
SincePavitr Prabhakar is supposed to be an Indian versionof Peter Parker, it makes sense that his girlfriend Gayatri was meant to be an Indian version of Gwen Stacy. Gayatri being Spider-Man’s love interest isn’t where the similarities stop. Just like Gwen Stacy, Gayatri’s father is a police captain who has a tenuous relationship with Spider-Man. Finally, one of the most obvious similarities is that Gayatri Singh has the same initials as Gwen Stacy, just like Pavitr Prabhakar and Peter Parker have the same initials.
While Gayatri being an alternate version of Gwen doesn’t necessarily have big plot implications, it sets the stage for what fans can expect to see inBeyond the Spider-Verse. Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have already confirmed thatmultiple versions of Gwen will appear inBeyond the Spider-Verse, but they have yet to discuss what form those versions will take. There’s a chance a good number of them will be like Gayatri - Gwens who act as Spider-Man’s love interest rather than the hero of their universes. However, there is also a chance that there are more spider-powered Gwen Stacys in the universe; if that’s the case, the perfect time to showcase them will be inBeyond the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis in theaters now.
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