8 Spider-Man Characters Sony Could Actually Build Its Reboot Universe Around

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Just before the movie Kraven the Hunter failed to impress viewers and reviewers, news came out that Sony Pictures was abandoning its plans for a connected universe of Spider-Man-related films, often called the SSU. While the Venom movies had some success, Sony’s other attempts to launch spin-off films featuring characters like Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter were largely considered disappointments. Despite widespread agreement that ending the franchise was the right move, Sony executive Tom Rothman suggested it might not be over completely.

Sony Pictures is attempting to create a shared universe based on characters from the Spider-Man stories. Despite a previous unsuccessful attempt – and their questionable decision to re-release Morbius based on ironic online interest, which led to it failing at the box office again – they’re trying this approach once more.

Despite the challenges, several characters from Spider-Man’s world have the potential to star in their own movies. Together, these characters could even create a fresh, interconnected universe without relying on the Peter Parker Spider-Man story. Here are eight characters Sony should seriously consider developing into films.

Spider-Girl


Marvel Comics

Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz

First Appearance: What If #105 (February 1998)

If Sony Pictures can’t feature Peter Parker as Spider-Man in their movies, they could introduce his daughter, May Parker, also known as Spider-Girl. A film centered on her, set in the future, could explore a new generation of villains based on Peter Parker’s classic enemies – and even introduce female versions of those villains, like Scorpia or Ana Kravinoff, the daughter of Kraven the Hunter. This would be similar to the popular animated series Batman Beyond, which almost became a movie itself, and give Sony a unique take on the Spider-Man story.

Sony could create a Spider-Girl movie that continues the story of Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst’s characters from the original Spider-Man trilogy, essentially replacing plans for Spider-Man 4. They could establish Spider-Girl as their daughter, creating a legacy sequel. Whether it’s a standalone film or part of the existing live-action Spider-Man universe, a Spider-Girl movie seems like a smart and obvious choice.

Solo


Marvel Comics

Created by David Michelinie and Marc Silvestri

First appearance: Web of Spider-Man #19 (October 1986)

Let’s talk about Solo, a character you might not know – and that’s okay! He’s not a major player like many heroes in Marvel or Spider-Man’s world. His real name is James Bourne, and he’s a skilled bodyguard and counter-terrorism expert. He’s an excellent shooter, a strong fighter, and can even teleport short distances.

Choosing Solo as the lead for a movie is an unusual choice, but films like Blade and Guardians of the Galaxy prove that even lesser-known characters can succeed if the movie is well-made. Sony doesn’t need a huge budget—$140 million—to make this work. Considering he’s a mercenary, a mid-budget action film, similar to the Equalizer movies, would be a good fit. This film could appeal to an older audience who enjoy action classics like Rambo and Commando, rather than typical superhero fans. It’s a chance to create a modern take on the classic “dad movie” action genre. Plus, his tagline, “While Solo lives, terror dies!” is instantly memorable and evokes the feel of 1980s action films.

Slingers


Marvel Comics

Created by Joseph Harris and Adam Pollina, ChrisCross

First Appearance: Slingers #0 (September 1998)

Slingers is a comic book team formed by four college students who decided to use old identities once worn by Spider-Man – specifically, aliases he used during the Identity Crisis storyline. These suits also appeared in the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man comic series. The team didn’t last long and was made up of characters with very different personalities, including:

  • Prodigy (Ritchie Gilmore)-Team leader who is a wrestler for Empire State University whose suit gives him super strength.
  • Dusk (Cassie St. Commons)-Goth daughter to a rich socialite, she dies and is resurrected with supernatural powers, including teleportation and manipulation of shadows.
  • Hornet (Eddie McDonough)-Empire State University first-year student who was born with cerebral palsy, whose supersuit gives him the ability to fly.
  • Richotte (Johnny Gallo)-Fast agility and leaping abilities allow him to bounce off walls.

Slingers offers a lighter, comedic take on the superhero genre for Sony Pictures. The show centers around four ordinary college students who suddenly find themselves with superpowered suits – and absolutely no idea how to use them. Watching them hilariously struggle to become heroes – or at least try – creates a fun, comedic premise. Think of it as a Ghostbustersstyle movie within the Spider-Man universe. In a landscape of often serious and high-stakes superhero films, a simple, straightforward comedy – unlike the self-aware humor of Deadpool* – could really make Sony’s Spider-Man Universe stand out.

Wraith


Marvel Comics

Created by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr.

Yuri Watanabe first appeared as a character in The Amazing Spider-Man #600 in July 2009. She later debuted as the hero Wraith in The Amazing Spider-Man #663 in June 2011.

Many fans first learned about Wraith and her identity, Yuri Watanabe, through her appearance in Insomniac’s Spider-Man games. Yuri Watanabe used to be a captain with the NYPD and worked with Spider-Man, but she grew frustrated with the legal system. This led her to become Wraith, a vigilante who takes justice into her own hands by directly killing criminals. Yuri was close to Jane DeWolff, a former police ally of Spider-Man who was killed by Sin-Eater, and Jane’s death heavily influenced Yuri’s decision to become Wraith.

With ‘Wraith,’ Sony Pictures has a chance to create its own take on the classic ‘Punisher’ story – and the gritty, violent revenge films that influenced it, like ‘Death Wish’ and ‘Taxi Driver’ – but with a female lead. The film could feature Wraith battling Spider-Man’s more obscure enemies, such as Sin-Eater or Angelo Fortunato, or even taking on supervillains who aren’t as well-known, like Vermin, Coldheart, or Jack O’Lantern. A ‘Wraith’ movie wouldn’t require a huge budget and, with the right marketing, could be a hard-hitting, R-rated revenge thriller rather than a typical superhero film.

Spider-Woman


Marvel Comics

Created by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin

First Appearance: Marvel Spotlight #32 (February 1977)

Spider-Woman’s position within the Marvel and Sony Spider-Man universes is unusual. Even though she isn’t typically connected to Spider-Man in the comics, the rights to the most well-known Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew, appear to be held by Sony. Sony featured three different Spider-Woman characters from the comics in the movie Madame Web, and at one point, they were also planning a standalone Spider-Woman film directed by Olivia Wilde, but that project was ultimately cancelled.

If Sony Pictures wants to create a superhero franchise similar to Spider-Man but can’t use that character, Spider-Woman would be an excellent choice. She could be the central hero connecting their various projects like Wraith, Solo, and Slingers. Because her comic books often focus on spy stories, a Spider-Woman movie series could be a thrilling, international espionage adventure – filling a gap in Sony’s film plans after Amazon bought MGM in 2022.

Black Cat


Marvel Comics

Created by Marv Wolfman and Dave Cockrum

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (July 1979)

Black Cat is a well-known character in Spider-Man’s world, but despite a quick appearance hinting at the character in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, she hasn’t yet appeared in a major movie role. Felicia Hardy, following in her father’s footsteps as a thief, is highly skilled in martial arts and acrobatics. She later develops the power to manipulate luck, making enemies experience misfortune and helping her win fights and avoid danger. Black Cat is a complex character, often blurring the lines between being a villain, a hero, or something in between.

For years, Sony Pictures worked on a movie featuring Black Cat and Silver Sable, originally called Silver and Black. Despite having a director lined up – Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for The Woman King – the project never got off the ground. If Marvel Studios doesn’t seem to be including Black Cat in their universe anytime soon, Sony should revisit the idea of a Black Cat solo film. They could focus on her evolution from thief to hero, drawing inspiration from the current Black Cat comic book series by G. Willow Wilson.

Sinister Six


Marvel Comics

Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (October 1964)

Sony once planned a spin-off movie called The Sinister Six as part of The Amazing Spider-Man series. Drew Goddard, known for directing Cabin in the Woods, was going to write and direct, but the project was canceled after audiences didn’t respond well to The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Sony then decided to reboot Spider-Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the Venom spin-off moved forward, The Sinister Six stayed stuck in development. It seems Sony hoped The Sinister Six would be a team-up movie similar to The Avengers, bringing together characters like Venom, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter.

Honestly, one of the biggest issues with Sony’s Spider-Man universe was trying to make villains like Kraven the Hunter into heroes. It just didn’t feel right – they seemed to be forcing things that didn’t fit. If they’re going for a Sinister Six movie, they should look at films like Reservoir Dogs or The Usual Suspects for inspiration. Those movies had criminals you could still, somehow, root for! The Sinister Six don’t need to be good guys. They just need to be facing someone even worse, or have stories that make us care about them, so we’re not automatically cheering for Spider-Man or whoever to beat them. If Sony really wanted to do something bold, they’d make a Sinister Six film where the villains fully embrace their bad guy roles.

Miles Morales


Marvel Comics

Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli

First Appearance: Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011)

Miles Morales is the most natural choice for a live-action Spider-Man spin-off. Sony’s Spider-Man universe has been confusing because it implies there isn’t a Spider-Man, but the character doesn’t have to be Peter Parker. While other Spider-Man variants, like Spider-Man 2099 and Spider-Man 1602, could be interesting leads, Miles Morales makes the most sense as the star of a new franchise. With the animated Spider-Verse trilogy ending in 2027 with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, introducing Miles Morales in a live-action film would be a significant event.

Sony creating a Spider-Man movie focused on Miles Morales could mean he won’t appear in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is a potential downside. However, building a universe around Miles’ Spider-Man is something even the comics haven’t done. A series of live-action films starring Miles, without relying on the multiverse, could offer audiences a fresh take on his story and give him the grounded, street-level adventures that define Spider-Man.




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2026-03-06 03:37