The long-awaited short film from the Spider-Verse, once thought to remain unseen, is now scheduled for an unexpected release - and at no cost.

The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, is set to make its debut on YouTube as a surprise, almost a full year following its festival premiere. Variety has shared news of its premiere, scheduled for March 27 on the Sony Pictures Animation YouTube channel, in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund. Its first showing was at the Annecy Film Festival in June 2023, under the direction of Sony's own Jarelle Dampier, with Khalia Amazan taking on writing duties.

The narrative of The Spider Within follows Miles Morales as he confronts a panic attack, struggling with the heavy demands and duties of a teenage superhero.

In remarks shared with the press, the director revealed his vision of the Spider-Verse short as a heartfelt ode to fans of Miles Morales. "Miles symbolizes many of us endeavoring to navigate our daily lives. It’s easy to overlook the magnitude of our experiences until we are forced to confront the physical manifestations of these journeys," Dampier articulated. "With The Spider Within, my goal is to spark meaningful discussions around mental health among peers and loved ones, making it a token of affection for followers of Miles Morales."

Miles is slated for his next appearance in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Initially expected to be released later in the month, the third installment saw an indefinite postponement last year, with no forthcoming release date announced. However, producer Phil Lord expressed to Deadline that Beyond aims to finalize the trilogy with a "profoundly satisfying conclusion."

Still immersed in the Spider-Verse saga? Explore a collection of key Easter eggs from Across the Spider-Verse you might have overlooked, alongside an exclusive interview with producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller discussing potential variations in the home release of the Spider-Verse sequel compared to the cinematic version.