Daniel Kaluuya to develop Spider-Punk Film Following Character’s Popularity, Addresses Hollywood Consolidation
LOS ANGELES, CA – Daniel Kaluuya is developing a standalone film centered around his critically acclaimed Spider-Punk character, Hobie Brown, following the overwhelmingly positive fan reaction to the character’s appearance in the 2023 animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The project will be a collaboration with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and Spider-Punk is also slated to appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
The intense fan response to Spider-Punk directly fueled the advancement of a dedicated film,allowing Kaluuya to expand on the alternate version of Spider-Man. Kaluuya expressed his excitement about working with Lord and Miller, calling them “great collaborators and storytellers.” He further stated,”Those Spider-Verse films,thay speak to me. I was so inspired by them.I think the filmmakers and the animators are some of the best storytellers in the game.”
Kaluuya revealed a key piece of guidance from lord during the film’s development: “films aren’t about people, they’re about relationships.” He emphasized the importance of joy in storytelling, noting that the Spider-Verse team excels at capturing that feeling. “They tap into a joy of cinema and storytelling and animation, and I think joy is so hard to do and that’s something I’m aspiring for,” Kaluuya said.
The actor also addressed the recent $82.7 billion Warner Bros. Finding-Netflix deal and the broader consolidation occurring within Hollywood. He characterized the shift as “a symptom of the rapid escalation and rapid progress of technology,” adding that “now, the tech companies kind of own the infrastructure.”
Despite the industry upheaval, Kaluuya remains focused on creating compelling work. “I’m not prescribing to this anxiety,” he stated. “You’ve just got to make something undeniable that speaks to the audience.” He affirmed his commitment to cinema and the communal experience of moviegoing, adding, “I’m here to tell my truth and execute that truth and bring the idea out.” Kaluuya concluded by expressing optimism about the future,stating,”We’re not scared of the future.”
