Sony’s beloved sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse has propelled toward astronomical success, landing rave reviews and churning mammoth figures at the box office. But with the controversy that has now broken out over the torturous working conditions that the studio subjected the film’s animators too, it seems like a pyrrhic victory at best.
Sony’s Grueling Working Conditions Drove 100 Animators to Quit
Though Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been having a field day at the box office ever since it hit the big screens, the behind-the-scenes condition isn’t nearly as picturesque. The $150 million Sony project, which took over 800 people a lengthy period of 4 years to execute, rendered animators absolutely miserable with taxing demands and ungodly work hours that reportedly stretched over 11 hours a day for 7 days a week lasting more than a year.
Furthermore, Phil Lord, who acted as a co-writer and co-producer along with Christopher Miller on the sequel, was slammed by unnamed animators for his turbulent management style that is believed to be the primary culprit of their abhorrent working conditions.
The 140-minute-long Spider-Verse 2 was initially meant to premiere back in April 2022, but due to what has been reported as “pandemic-related delays” [via EW], the film was pushed for an October release before ultimately priming it for a 2023 debut. Unfortunately enough, the workers had to pay the hefty price for the production delays and other such setbacks that can essentially be traced back to the studio along with filmmakers.
As a result, about a hundred animators ended up calling it quits before the film even concluded, and fans are positively incensed at the studio, to say the least.
Across the Spider-Verse Fans Unite As They Call Out Sony
Following this scandal, fans of the Marvel comic book adaptation have extended immense support to the workers who were pushed beyond limits for the Spider-Verse sequel. And former Sony exec, Amy Pascal, who also served as a producer on Across the Spider-Verse, defending these harrowing working conditions only seems to have added fuel to the fire.
we’re so tired of animators being maltreated pic.twitter.com/NlBfE1uiug
— 𝐣𝐚𝐲 ; 🇹🇹 (@been_barb) June 23, 2023
Sony you got some explaining to do pic.twitter.com/0jwTZaESZZ
— 𝐞-𝐦𝐚𝐧 🛸 (@eman2k_) June 23, 2023
As much as I love spider-verse it’s important for these animators to be heard.
— The 10th Dentist (@kit5110) June 23, 2023
Says a lot that even brilliant films that are universally held in high regard still suffer from bad working conditions. Something seriously needs to change
— MC Liked The Flash (@PTSD_barnum) June 23, 2023
B-But I thought marvel studios was the only studio to treat vfx workers badly?
— 3 🏴☠️ (@castrogrim) June 23, 2023
Damn. Not even surprised. It’s Sony
— Mike Tom (@MikeTomGotJokes) June 23, 2023
Earlier this year, Marvel faced vehement backlash over the ill-treatment of its VFX artists owing to the toxic work environment that it sustained. In light of the same, veteran Marvel Studios executive and former visual effects head Victoria Alonso made a swift and shocking exit from the superhero franchise. While some believed she was used as a scapegoat so that the studio could elude going down the drain as an enterprise, others seemed much more content at her departure.
Either way, given the relationship Sony has with its parent company Disney, it’s not particularly good for business. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, it now has to put out a blazing fire of its own.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently playing in cinemas.
Source: Vulture
