Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Characters & Cast

Initially motivated by a desire to honor the memory of his universe's Peter Parker, Miles's motivation evolves into a deep-seated need to protect his family and his newfound friends. The death of his uncle, Aaron, at the hands of Kingpin solidifies his resolve to stop the villain and accept the responsibilities of being Spider-Man.

Miles begins as an artistically gifted but insecure teenager struggling with the pressures of a new school and his father's expectations. After gaining his powers, he is overwhelmed by fear and self-doubt, refusing the call to adventure until the death of his universe's Peter Parker thrusts responsibility upon him. Through the reluctant mentorship of Peter B. Parker and the camaraderie of the other Spider-People, Miles learns to control his unique abilities. His journey culminates in him overcoming his fear, creating his own identity as Spider-Man, and taking a 'leap of faith' to save his friends and the multiverse, transforming from a withdrawn kid into a confident hero.

His primary motivation is to get back to his own dimension. He is driven by regret and a sense of failure in his personal life. This selfishness slowly gives way to a genuine desire to help Miles succeed and protect his new friends, leading to his own redemption.

This version of Peter Parker is older, divorced, out of shape, and deeply cynical after years of being Spider-Man have taken a personal toll. Initially, he wants nothing to do with mentoring Miles, focused only on returning to his own dimension. His plan to sacrifice himself is revealed to be borderline suicidal, born from a desire to escape his failures. However, teaching and watching Miles grow forces Peter to confront his own despair and reconnect with the hero he used to be. By the end, he is inspired to return home and try to mend his own life, particularly his relationship with Mary Jane.

Like the other displaced heroes, her main goal is to return home. However, she is also motivated by a strong moral compass and a protective instinct. Having failed to save her Peter, she is determined not to let her new friends suffer the same fate, pushing her to engage despite her emotional reservations.

Gwen is a highly skilled and confident hero from her own dimension. However, she is emotionally closed off, having lost her best friend, Peter Parker, in a tragic accident she blames herself for. This trauma makes her wary of getting close to anyone. Her journey in Miles's dimension involves learning to trust others and open herself up to friendship again, particularly with Miles. By the film's end, she has moved past her self-imposed isolation, valuing the connection she made with the team and finding a way to contact Miles from her own universe.

Kingpin's sole motivation is to reunite with his family. This seemingly sympathetic goal is corrupted by his monstrous selfishness; he is willing to destroy entire universes and kill anyone who stands in his way, including multiple Spider-Men, to achieve it. His love is possessive and destructive, not selfless.

Kingpin is the film's central antagonist, but his motivations are rooted in a personal tragedy. His wife and son left him in horror after discovering his criminal life, and were then killed in a car accident. He is obsessed with using the super-collider to bring back alternate versions of his family, regardless of the catastrophic risk to all of reality. His arc is a refusal to accept loss, contrasting sharply with the heroes who are all defined by their ability to endure and grow from tragedy. He remains unrepentant, doubling down on his destructive path until his defeat.