Gwen Stacy, also known by her alias Spider-Woman, is a fictional character appearing in the Spider-Verse film franchise. She has her origins rooted in the original Gwen Stacy (Earth-616) comic book character, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Later, Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez created an alternate universe version of Gwen Stacy (Earth-65), who undertakes the Spider-Woman superhero moniker and is colloquially known as Spider-Gwen.
A film adaptation of that alternate Gwen Stacy (Earth-65), the Spider-Verse film character is voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and first appears in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). Steinfeld reprised her role in the sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), and is scheduled to further portray the character in the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and Spider-Woman (both ).
The character has been generally received positively by audiences and critics alike, who consider her as helping transform the Gwen Stacy character into having a more prominent role in Spider-Man lore. Her expanded role in Across was particularly commended, with much discussion about her arc in the film being a queer coded allegory for the transgender experience. Those who asserted this interpretation praised Gwen as a positive media portrayal of a trans allegory, even if the character is not depicted as trans.
Appearances
Into the Spider-Verse
Gwen is introduced as a teenager in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, explaining that she has been Spider-Woman for two years. She also mentions that she failed to save her universe's Peter Parker, who was her best friend, blaming herself for his death.
She explains that during battle with Doctor Octopus, she was pulled in another dimension. Her "spider-sense" led her to Brooklyn Visions Academy, where she would meet Miles, who is unaware of her identity as Spider-Woman. She introduces herself under the alias "Wanda" (mistaken by Miles as "Gwanda"). When first speaking to her, Miles is depicted as obviously anxious. Their meeting is awkward and Miles, not having a handle on his powers yet, gets his hand stuck in Gwen's hair, resulting in her distinctive undercut later in the film. At one point Gwen webs up Miles and Peter B. Parker, taking the briefcase they had stolen from Alchemax.
Gwen, along with the other Spider-people (Peter, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man Noir, and Peni Parker), are seen returning to their respective dimensions. Right before the credits of Into the Spider-Verse, a flash featuring the color scheme of Gwen's dimension is seen, with her voice also heard calling to Miles.
Across the Spider-Verse
Set over a year after the events of Into the Spider-Verse, the sequel offers Gwen more screentime and delves more in-depth into her backstory. The film's opening is centered on Gwen, with its narrative crosscut with visuals of her drumming intensely for her band, the Mary Janes. The narrative element of the opening focuses on her backstory and struggling relationship with her father, police captain George Stacy. It is revealed that Earth-65B's Peter Parker turns into the Lizard after experimenting on himself. As the Lizard, Peter crashes a high school dance to attack his bullies. Gwen battles the Lizard as Spider-Woman, unaware that she's fighting Peter. During the battle, Peter is fatally wounded by debris and reverts to his human form before dying. Gwen is guilt-ridden upon realizing she inadvertently killed her best friend. Captain Stacy sees Spider-Woman at the scene and, thinking she is responsible for Peter's death, dedicates himself to arresting her.
Wrongly accused of murdering Peter, Gwen becomes a fugitive while continuing to fight villains as Spider-Woman; she is seen fighting an interdimensional Italian Renaissance-themed version of the Vulture. During the fight, she meets Miguel O'Hara (known as Spider-Man 2099) and another Spider-Woman, Jess Drew. The latter is based on the Jessica Drew from Spider-Woman comics lore; in Across the Spider-Verse, she serves as Gwen's mentor and urges to include her in the Spider-Society, despite Miguel's initial push back. At the end of their battle with the Vulture, Gwen is again confronted by her father and in this moment, reveals her identity to him. He remains committed to arresting Spider-Woman, which greatly hurts her emotionally. She chooses to leave her home universe, traveling with Jess and Miguel and joining the Spider-Society.