The Dos and Don’ts of Rebooting Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
Earlier this week, Sony announced it’s rebooting the Spider-Man Universe, and all I could think was, oh boy, here we go again. The shame of it is that Sony’s Spider-Man-less initiative started okay with 2018’s Venom, a campy, unserious take on a classic Marvel villain that, while not exactly what people were expecting (or wanted), managed to offer a fun respite from Disney and Marvel‘s deluge of blockbuster superhero epics. In a way, Venom was quaint by comparison. However, it didn’t take long for things to start going downhill.
Despite starring Woody Harrelson, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was a mess. Well, except for the scene of Venom partying at a neon-lit nightclub and declaring his autonomy from Eddie, that was hilariously rad. Morbius didn’t do Sony any favors, as it became a meme before it had a chance to bomb in theaters. Then, Sony misunderstood the film’s “popularity” and re-released it to no acclaim. Madame Web is, to this day, one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I didn’t bother seeing Venom: The Last Dance because my morbid curiosity took a nap. And finally, Kraven the Hunter was so bad that my podcast crew organized a Mystery Science Theater-like screening event for its digital release.
After so many misfires, how can Sony reboot its Spider-Man Universe to get audiences feeling good about their handling of the property? To figure that out, I made a list. A couple of dos and don’ts, if you will. I don’t get paid to save Sony’s bacon from the fire, but I do love Spider-Man, and superhero cinema in general (for better or worse). So, let’s take a look at the rights nightmare that is Sony’s Spider-Man character roster and see what we can do, shall we?
DO Focus on What Heroes You Do Have
While Sony’s access to Marvel’s Spider-Man Universe heroes is limited, the studio made a mistake by trying to turn villains into anti-heroes at every turn. Let villains be villains, and mine the friendly neighborhood do-gooders for all they’re worth. If you’re unable to lock down Peter Parker’s Spider-Man, bring live-action versions of Miles Morales or Spider-Gwen (aka Ghost-Spider) to the stage. Yes, Miles and Gwen exist in Sony’s spectacular Spider-Verse films, but why not expand their appeal with live-action solo movies? You could even tap Spider-Woman for a live-action film. Her backstory is bananas, and I know plenty of people who would jump at the chance to see Jessica Drew web-swing through the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Or, go back to the drawing board for Cindy Moon, aka Silk. I know Amazon canceled its plans for the Silk TV series, but who’s to say someone else can’t weave something worthwhile with a character that’s brimming with potential?
DO NOT Promise Ambitious Cross-Over Events
Anyone still waiting for Sony to capitalize on its plans for a Sinister Six movie might as well give up the ghost. I doubt it’ll ever happen. While Sony had every intention of bringing several of its villains together for one film, the reception to its villain-related output was so touch-and-go that any attempt to produce a Sinister Six movie was a risk or would have been DOA. If you must make a Sinister Six movie, why not do something like Marvel’s The Superior Foes of Spider-Man instead? In Nick Spencer’s 17-issue series from 2013 to 2014, Boomerang leads the Sinister Six, consisting of Shocker, Speed Demon, Overdrive, and the new Beetle. The story finds the team organizing an Ocean’s Eleven-style heist that’s not-so-secretly a mission to steal the head of Silvermane while working to repay a debt to Chameleon. The film could be an ensemble crime comedy with sniping character dynamics, double-crosses, and over-the-top antics. It’s a risk, but seeing as Sony thought Madame Web was a good idea, why not try something that could go over like Snatch meets The Great Muppet Caper?
DO Bring Back Legacy Actors Before It’s Too Late
Sony webbed up over $1.95 billion when it released Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. A significant draw of the film was the inclusion of Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their alternate versions of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. In addition to making a ton of money, No Way Home showed that people wanted to see Maguire and Garfield in the red pajamas again, be it for nostalgia or otherwise. Before Maguire or Garfield are “too old for this shit,” sign them up for a new Spider-Man film. If you need inspiration, look to Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s Ultimate Spider-Man series. I could envision Garfield playing a Peter Parker (complete with sexy beard action) who doesn’t remember he’s Spider-Man until events trigger his memory. The series includes alternate takes on classic heroes and villains, giving Sony plenty of space to mix things up, like DC’s Elseworlds initiative. You could bring Maguire and Garfield back as they were, but if we’re rebooting the Spider-Man Universe, why not do something bold instead of playing the hits?
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Weird
If Sony wants to reboot its Spider-Man Universe, it needs to take risks. Pussy-footing around the past isn’t going to work, and nostalgia will only squeeze so much money out of the cash cow before the bovine beast starts spurting powdered milk. Mine Marvel’s near-infinite library of comics, pick the best stories with the characters you have access to, and don’t be afraid to get weird. Trust audiences to adapt to change, so long as those changes stem from a solid foundation, not whatever Morbius and Kraven the Hunter were supposed to be. Scout for cast and crew that will make the project unique, rather than feeling as if the film came from a treadmill factory. Sony, if you need some ideas, email me. We’ll talk.
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