Why Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Movies Don’t Have Spider-Man In Them

Why Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Movies Don’t Have Spider-Man In Them

As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous superhero franchises, I must admit that Sony’s decision to keep Spider-Man out of their spinoff projects has left me somewhat perplexed. While I understand the studio’s concerns about audience acceptance and the complexities of multiversal storytelling, I can’t help but feel that they’re missing a trick by excluding the web-slinger from these films.

If you thought Kraven The Hunter was going to be the last film in Sony’s Spider-Man series, it appears you were mistaken. A recent report from Variety sheds light on Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff movies without Spider-Man himself, and one intriguing detail is that a Sony insider claims their deal with Disney didn’t prevent them from using Spider-Man in movies not titled after him. But why wasn’t he used earlier? That’s where things get fascinating.

According to the report, you can observe this phenomenon by examining the Spider-Verse films. These movies, not bearing the Spider-Man title, have the liberty to feature characters like Peter Parker and Spider-Man. If films such as Venom, Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter also omitted ‘Spider-Man’ from their titles, why wasn’t Spider-Man a part of those stories too?

Based on information from a Sony insider, there seemed to be an opinion within the studio that viewers might not welcome Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man appearing in live-action movies outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This sentiment grew stronger as Marvel began shaping the multiverse rules in Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and most notably, Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In simpler terms, Sony had the ability to include Spider-Man in movies like Morbius, Madame Web, or Kraven the Hunter, but they believed audiences might not accept it. A high-ranking executive with a background in superhero productions likened this situation to working within a confined space. They stated, “Collaboration between studios is incredibly challenging due to complex business relationships. Sony operates within a limited scope, and they’re focused on delivering one quality film at a time.

In a similar fashion, Morbius faced a situation where additional filming was necessary because of its delayed release. This allowed for the clarification of Michael Keaton’s character, Adrian Toomes, and his role in the movie. Originally scheduled for 2020, the film’s launch was postponed due to the pandemic, leading to subsequent releases of films such as No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness that affected the original multiverse plotline and timeline.

In contrast, movies such as Madame Web and Kraven had a smoother path without directly involving Spider-Man. Instead, they either omitted or eliminated elements intended to connect him. It’s intriguing why they chose not to include Spider-Man in these films, particularly in Madame Web, where the characters are heavily associated with the Spider-Man universe’s web-slinging side.

It’s intriguing to speculate where the Sony Spider-Man universe is headed next, but it appears they won’t abandon it entirely. According to insiders at Sony, they may need to be more discerning about which characters they develop for standalone franchises, particularly if they choose not to incorporate Spider-Man significantly in the future.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the choice Sony made to exclude Spider-Man from their spinoff ventures. Feel free to share your insights about Marvel’s Spider-Man, as we both are big fans and enjoy discussing this topic on Threads @mattaguilarcb or Bluesky @knightofoa!

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2024-12-14 18:09