Here's How A 14-Year-Old Got Hired to Work on "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"

The Spider-Verse is all about a young man trying to use his unique talents to stand out in the world.

And a 14-year-old -- in the real world -- did exactly that.

In a world where dreams might seem out of reach, a spectacular individual with an undying passion for Spider-Man spun his own endearing web.

How a 14-year-old boy Got a job on "spider-man: across the spider-verse"

Five months before Sony released its highly anticipated sequel Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, 14-year-old Preston Muntanga recreated the studio's initial trailer for the movie using Lego bricks.

Little did he know, his creative prowess would catch the attention of the movie's production team.

Intrigued by his talent, the film's producers, Chris Lord and Phil Miller, reached out to Preston, extending an invitation to contribute to the film.

As fate would have it, a Lego scene was already planned in the film, paying homage to the directors' earlier work on The Lego Movie, making it a perfect synergy of creative minds.

Initially met with skepticism, Preston's supportive parents soon realized the opportunity was actually real.
Determined to foster their son's gift, the young animator's parents equipped him with the tools he needed. His father assembled a new computer, complete with a state-of-the-art graphics card, enabling Preston to dive into his cinematic endeavors (after finishing his schoolwork).

Gisele Mutanga, Preston's mother, expressed her unwavering belief in her son's talent, emphasizing that it was a "divine gift." As parents, they understood that their role was to nurture his abilities and allow him to soar (or web-sling).

"I know Preston has a gift that was given to him by God, and once we identified that he had that gift, all we could do as parents was to nurture it and let him fly."

Gisele Mutanga, Preson's mother -- via Entertainment Weekly

Regular video meetings between the two producers and Preston offered the young artist valuable feedback and guidance.

Phil Lord, who already had a connection to Lego via The Lego Movie, says the 2014 movie was born out of the passion and creativity of people crafting their own films with Lego bricks.

In a beautiful twist of fate, Preston drew inspiration from a movie that, in turn, was inspired by people like him—proof that heroes can emerge from unexpected places.

Preston got the attention of Lord the way many people do on social media -- by tagging them relentlessly.

After watching Preston's recreated Lego scene, Lord replied, "well done!" before asking him how old he was when The Lego Movie was released.

Preston Mutanga's incredible journey from a fan recreating a trailer with Legos to becoming a valued contributor to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse exemplifies the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to dream.

His story resonates with the film's message that heroes can come from anywhere, reminding us all that within each of us lies the power to make a profound impact on the world around us, no matter how grand or humble our beginnings may be.

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