Sony’s greatest franchise is “Spider-Man,” and it isn’t notably shut. The issue? It will probably solely make so many motion pictures that really have Spider-Man in them. That is why the studio has made spin-offs centered on villains like “Venom” in recent times. It was suspected that Sony’s “Spider-Man” villain universe could possibly be lifeless after “Kraven the Hunter.” However now we all know that spin-off universe will probably be rebooted.
In a current interview on “The City” podcast, Sony Photos CEO Tom Rothman addressed the way forward for the studio’s dealing with of the bigger “Spider-Man” universe. Rothman was requested if the bigger Spider-Verse was lifeless, to which he replied, “No.” He was then requested if the studio was going to revisit “these” in some unspecified time in the future. Rothman stated “sure.” Requested to make clear if it could be a contemporary reboot with new individuals, Rothman then doubled down saying, “sure, sure.”
It appears Tom Holland continues to be going to be the primary Spidey going ahead. “Spider-Man: Model New Day” hits theaters in July. However do not count on to see “Madame Net 2” or “Morbius 2” — not that we had been precisely at any danger of that anyhow. The field workplace for “Madame Net” was unhealthy sufficient to kill Sony’s additional spin-off plans, and Rothman’s new feedback make it clear Sony is aware of that the strategy wasn’t working.
“Venom” was an enormous hit in 2018, taking in $856 million on the field workplace, however that proved to be an outlier. Critics typically dismissed the film, however audiences embraced it. Sony appeared to assume “to hell with critics” and moved ahead with extra spin-offs. The misfires mounted, and now it is again to the drafting board. Sony can declare that the flop that was “Morbius” turned a revenue, however not sufficient of 1 to save lots of this enterprise because it exists.
Sony’s strategy to the bigger Spider-Man universe should change
Starring Jared Leto, who has asserted himself as field workplace poison, “Morbius” made simply $167 million globally — a pitiful sum by Marvel requirements. That set the tone for something outdoors of the “Venom” franchise. “Madame Net” barely made it previous the $100 million mark, and “Kraven the Hunter” topped out at a measly $62 million. All of those motion pictures had been eviscerated critically.
Whereas “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ($506 million) and “Venom: The Final Dance” ($479 million) carried out moderately nicely, every installment made lower than its predecessor, with Tom Hardy retiring from the title position. For that purpose, “Venom: The Final Dance” introduced an issue for Sony’s Marvel universe: the place to go from right here? That is a query Tom Rothman and the remainder of the brass at Sony now have to reply. They’ll not make excuses.
“Madame Net underperformed within the theaters as a result of the press simply crucified it,” then-outgoing Sony Photos CEO Tony Vinciquerra stated to the Los Angeles Instances in 2024. “It was not a nasty movie, and it did nice on Netflix. For some purpose, the press determined that they did not need us making these movies out of Kraven and Madame Net, and the critics simply destroyed them.”
Blaming critics solely will get you up to now. Audiences had been already starting to activate superhero motion pictures, even the nice ones, as they’re not performing in addition to they used to. Movies as unhealthy as “Morbius” have little or no likelihood within the market.
We’re already seeing some modifications. An animated “Venom” film is within the works from “Remaining Vacation spot Bloodlines” filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein. That is a begin. As for the live-action stuff? We’ll must see what Rothman and co. can provide you with.
