Gwen and Miles Kiss: Why the Spider-Verse Slow Burn is Actually Genius

Gwen and Miles Kiss: Why the Spider-Verse Slow Burn is Actually Genius

Let's be real for a second. We’ve all been staring at the screen, gripping our popcorn, just waiting for it to happen. The tension between Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy is thick enough to web up a skyscraper, yet as of 2026, the gwen and miles kiss remains the "white whale" of the Spider-Verse franchise.

It’s frustrating. It’s beautiful. It’s driving the fandom absolutely insane.

But if you look closer at how Sony Animation is playing this, the lack of a kiss isn't a mistake. It’s the entire point. In a multiverse where "canon events" usually mean tragedy and death, Miles and Gwen are trying to write a different story. They’re fighting the literal laws of reality just to be together, and that makes a simple lip-lock feel like a cosmic revolution.

The Gwen and Miles Kiss That Almost Happened

Did you know we were actually supposed to see them kiss years ago?

According to various production interviews and early storyboards from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), the original ending featured a much more overt romantic moment. Before Gwen jumps back into the collider to return to her own dimension, there was a version where she and Miles shared a goodbye kiss.

The directors—Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman—ultimately axed it. They felt it was "unearned." They wanted the focus to stay on Miles’s growth as a hero rather than just "getting the girl."

Honestly? Good call.

Instead of a generic superhero ending, we got that iconic "friends" fist bump and Gwen’s lingering look. It set the stage for the year-and-a-half long pining we saw in Across the Spider-Verse. You’ve seen the sketches in Miles's notebook. The kid is obsessed. And Gwen? She’s keeping that one photo of them hidden like it's her most prized possession.

Why the Clocktower Scene Broke Everyone

The closest we’ve ever gotten to a gwen and miles kiss was on top of the Williamsburg Bank Building. You know the one. They’re sitting upside down, looking at the city, and the chemistry is just... painful.

Gwen drops that heavy line: "In every other universe, Gwen Stacy falls for Spider-Man. And in every other universe, it doesn't end well."

That’s the barrier. It’s not that they don't want to kiss; it's that Gwen is literally terrified that loving Miles will kill him (or her). When she leans her head on his shoulder, it’s a moment of pure vulnerability. It’s arguably more intimate than a kiss would have been at that point in the story.

The Comic Book Reality vs. The Movie

If you’re looking for a gwen and miles kiss right now, you have to turn to the source material. Specifically, the "Sitting in a Tree" arc from 2017 (Spider-Man #12-14 and Spider-Gwen #16-18).

In the comics, Miles and Gwen actually do kiss. Multiple times.

  • The Rooftop Kiss: They share a pretty passionate moment on a rooftop in Earth-65.
  • The Marriage Reveal: They travel to Earth-8, a future timeline where Miles and Gwen are actually married with two kids, Max and Charlotte.

But here’s the kicker: after seeing their future selves, the comic versions of Miles and Gwen decide to just stay friends. They found the idea of "destiny" forcing them together a bit too much.

The movies are doing the opposite. In the Spider-Verse films, they are actively fighting against a destiny that says they can't be together. It flips the script in a way that makes every touch and every look feel incredibly high-stakes.

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What’s the Hold-up for Beyond the Spider-Verse?

We’re all looking toward the final chapter. With Beyond the Spider-Verse currently slated for a June 18, 2027 release (fingers crossed it doesn't move again), the big question is: will they finally go for it?

The ending of Across the Spider-Verse left things on a pretty sour note. Miles feels betrayed. Gwen is desperate to find him. Prowler-Miles is... well, being the Prowler.

It’s a classic "dark night of the soul." For a gwen and miles kiss to happen in the third movie, there has to be a massive reconciliation. Miles has to forgive Gwen for keeping the Spider-Society’s secrets, and Gwen has to finally stop being afraid of the "Gwen Stacy tragedy" trope.

What the Experts are Saying

Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have teased that the third film is basically a "love story" at its core. They’ve hinted that the relationship between these two is the emotional anchor of the entire trilogy.

Most fans (and even some voice actors) believe the kiss will be the "Leap of Faith" moment for their relationship—the moment they decide to ignore the rules of the multiverse and just be Miles and Gwen.

How to Get Your "Gwiles" Fix Right Now

Since the movie is still a ways off, the community has basically taken matters into its own hands. If you search for a gwen and miles kiss online, you're going to find a mountain of fan art, "manhwa-style" recreations, and even AI-generated parodies.

  • Fan Commissions: Some of the most high-quality "kisses" exist as commissioned pieces from artists like Lempabustan or other Spider-Verse specialists.
  • The Art Books: If you want canon-adjacent content, the Across the Spider-Verse art book shows just how much effort went into the "almost" moments. They specifically designed the lighting in the clocktower scene to feel romantic without being "mushy."
  • The Soundtrack: Listen to "Self Love" by Coi Leray or "Am I Dreaming" from the ATSV soundtrack. The lyrics are basically Gwen and Miles's internal monologues about each other.

The Actionable Takeaway for Fans

If you’re frustrated by the slow burn, use this time to catch up on the Earth-8 storyline in the comics. It’s the only place where you get to see what a "happily ever after" looks like for these two. It provides a lot of context for why Gwen is so scared in the movies—she’s seen the best and worst versions of their potential future.

The gwen and miles kiss isn't just a shipping moment. It’s the climax of a story about agency, defying fate, and choosing your own path. When it finally happens, it won't just be a romantic beat; it'll be the moment the Spider-Verse changes forever.

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Keep an eye on official Sony Animation social channels around late 2026. Usually, when the first trailer for a Spider-Verse movie drops, they start leaning heavy into the "love story" marketing. That’s when we’ll likely get our first glimpse of their reunion.