Sony Plans to Reboot Its Spider-Man Spinoff Universe

Sony Pictures has confirmed it will reboot its Spider-Man spinoff universe films.

Tom Rothman, head of Sony Pictures, recently shared on the podcast The Town With Matt Belloni that the studio intends to restart its Spider-Man universe of spin-off films at some point in the future.

Rothman didn’t offer specifics, but he confirmed that the broader Spider-Verse beyond the animated films isn’t finished. He also indicated that Sony plans to revisit their spin-off properties in the future with completely new casts and storylines.

Even though Sony owns the rights to make Spider-Man movies, their recent spin-off films like Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter haven’t been very popular with audiences or reviewers.

These Spider-Man Universe (SSU) spinoffs from Sony haven’t been very successful. They’ve often suffered from problems like inconsistent tone, straying from the source material, or simply having weak storylines, resulting in costly failures for the company.

Why Sony’s Spider-Man Spinoff Movies Flopped

Released in February 2024, Madame Web is widely considered one of Sony’s least successful attempts at a Spider-Man spin-off. The film flopped at the box office, earning just over $100 million despite costing $80 million to make. Although former Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra blamed negative press for the film’s poor performance, most viewers found it to be a weak movie due to its low-quality visual effects, strange audio dubbing, confusing storyline, and poor script – ultimately becoming more of an internet joke than a serious superhero film.

Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, which came out in December of the same year, didn’t perform well at the box office, earning only $62 million despite costing around $130 million to make. Critics said the movie’s script was weak, the special effects were disappointing, and the plot lacked depth.

In 2022, the movie Morbius, starring Jared Leto, was a box-office disappointment, experiencing a massive 74% drop in revenue during its second weekend. The film quickly became a meme online, with the phrase “It’s Morbin’ Time” going viral. Sony briefly re-released the movie in theaters hoping to capitalize on the attention, but it ultimately failed to improve its performance and remained a critical and commercial failure.

Let’s be real, Sony’s had some wins even amidst the challenges. The Venom movies, starring Tom Hardy, have been surprisingly huge at the box office. All three – the original Venom from 2018, Let There Be Carnage in 2021, and this year’s The Last Dance – have raked in the cash. Critics haven’t always loved them, but audiences have clearly embraced the character’s wild energy, and that’s what’s driven their success.

The Best Marvel Movies Not Made By Marvel Studios

15. Deadpool 2 (2018)

The second Deadpool movie was even better than the first, offering a surprisingly touching story for Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson. Josh Brolin was perfectly cast as Cable, providing a great contrast to Deadpool’s constant talking. The introduction of the X-Force is one of the funniest extended jokes you’ll find in any movie. (Definitely watch the original R-rated version – the PG-13 cut is a completely different experience.)

14. Captain America (1944)

For around 40 years, Captain America was the only Marvel hero to appear in a major movie, starring in a surprisingly good serial film in 1944. Interestingly, this version of Captain America wasn’t Steve Rogers; instead, he was a crime-fighting district attorney named Grant Gardner. The film ignored his well-known origin story about the Super-Soldier Serum and he didn’t use his iconic shield. Instead, Captain America fought a typical 1940s villain called “The Scarab,” who was after a series of advanced technological devices. The first of these was a “thermodynamic vibration engine” capable of destroying buildings—which the characters kept referring to as a “vibrator.” They’d dramatically warn things like, “The vibrator! If it doesn’t shut off, the building will collapse!” You’ve been warned. (You can find more details here.)

13. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 has often gotten a bad rap – even from Raimi himself, who once felt it didn’t quite succeed. While it’s true the movie isn’t perfect, it has plenty of strong points, including some of the best action scenes in the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films, like the dramatic rescue of Gwen Stacy. A common criticism centers on the portrayal of Venom, especially the way the black suit is played for laughs – there’s a memorable scene where Peter Parker, influenced by the suit, dances in the streets. This approach definitely clashed with the trend towards darker, more serious superhero movies at the time. However, if you see Spider-Man 3 as Raimi intentionally poking fun at the idea of a ‘dark’ comic book movie with Venom, the film becomes much more enjoyable.

12. X-Men (2000)

That line about Toads and lightning is pretty awful, and the black leather outfits really show the movie’s age. Hugh Jackman got much more muscular in later films – he looks quite small here! But there’s a reason the first X-Men movie kicked off the superhero movie craze of the 2000s. It really understood the characters and presented them on screen in a smart way, focusing on what mattered most to audiences. Interestingly, Hugh Jackman almost didn’t get the part of Wolverine! He was the filmmakers’ second choice, and only landed the role after Dougray Scott, who was originally cast, had to leave due to scheduling conflicts with Mission: Impossible II.

11. The Punisher (1989)

The Punisher lives in a hideout reminiscent of the Ninja Turtles, and his adventures are just as over-the-top – he even fights underwater ninjas! He speaks in a low growl like Dolph Lundgren, and one action sequence takes place in a vintage amusement park where Yakuza members shoot machine guns from a giant slide. After Frank Castle demolishes a mobster’s home, a reporter blurts out, “Holy cow, it’s the Punisher!” It’s not necessarily the best Punisher movie, but it’s definitely the most fun to watch.

10. Big Hero 6 (2014)

Blending the heart of Disney with the action of Marvel, Big Hero 6 is a surprisingly successful film. While the story gets tangled up in a villain’s plot involving stolen technology, the movie’s emotional core—dealing with grief and loss—still shines through. Ultimately, the film proves that soft, huggable robots are the best, and Baymax is the perfect example!

9. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

This movie successfully blends the original and newer X-Men actors – some are aging, but still great – with a reliably strong performance from Hugh Jackman. It introduces cool new mutants, like Blink, who has creatively used powers, and features a standout scene with Quicksilver (Evan Peters) using his speed to rescue Wolverine, Magneto, and Professor X from a dangerous situation at the Pentagon. The biggest problem is how the film essentially ignores much of what happened in First Class. Several important characters are suddenly revealed to be dead, the school built in that movie is already gone, and even Professor X unexpectedly recovers from his paralysis.

8. Blade (1998)

Before Marvel movies became popular, Wesley Snipes recognized the exciting possibilities of comic book storytelling. In a humorous interview while playing the character Blade, he explained that portraying a comic book hero allows for complete creative freedom – developing a unique voice, appearance, and movement. Snipes’ Blade film was groundbreaking, essentially paving the way for the interconnected world of superheroes and monsters we see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe today.

7. X2 (2003)

X2 might be the most significant superhero movie of the 21st century. While the first X-Men and Spider-Man films showed that comics could be successfully adapted for the screen, X2 demonstrated that movies could actually improve upon them. The breathtaking action sequences, like Nightcrawler’s attack on the White House, brought the character’s teleportation ability to life in a way static comic book panels never could. The film’s climactic dam burst felt like a turning point, truly launching the modern superhero movie boom. X2 fundamentally changed the game, and things weren’t the same after it.

6. Logan (2017)

Hugh Jackman’s third attempt at a solo Wolverine movie finally hit the mark with Logan. The film fully explored the character’s gritty, heartbreaking story, and its R-rating allowed for a much darker and more intense adventure fitting for a story about a hero facing his end. Logan also avoided the problem of earlier X-Men movies having too many characters, focusing instead on a small, essential cast, including a fantastic Patrick Stewart as an elderly Professor X struggling with declining mental health and the loss of control over his immense power.

5. Blade II (2002)

Blade II improved on the original by combining Wesley Snipes’ energetic performance as the vampire hunter Blade with director Guillermo del Toro’s distinctive, visually striking horror style. Del Toro introduced a terrifying new breed of super vampires – born from a deadly pandemic – with gruesome, extending jaws who prey on both humans and other vampires. Only Blade, with his incredible fighting skills, can stop them. (Of course, vampires have only a few weaknesses: silver, garlic, sunlight, and, apparently, powerful spin kicks!)

4. Spider-Man (2002)

With so many Spider-Man movies being released now, it’s easy to forget how groundbreaking Sam Raimi’s first film was. While it might look a little old-fashioned today, it was incredibly innovative for 2002. It nailed every aspect – the costume, action, special effects, the emotional impact of Uncle Ben’s death, and Peter Parker’s complicated relationships with Norman and Harry Osborn. It fundamentally changed how audiences viewed superhero films, paving the way for the cinematic universes we have today. Plus, how many other superhero movies have imitated its iconic final scene of Spider-Man swinging through New York City?

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Building on the innovative style of Into the Spider-Verse, this sequel introduces Miles Morales to Spider-Man 2099 and his team, the “Spider Society.” Their mission is to safeguard the multiverse from threats like the Spot, a new villain who can create portals to other dimensions. Visually, Across the Spider-Verse surpasses its predecessor, with each Spider-Person’s world boasting a unique and stunning style—Spider-Gwen’s dimension resembles a living watercolor painting, and Spider-Man India comes from a vibrant, yellow-and-green city called “Mumbattan.” The main drawback? This is only the first half of a two-part story, and it occasionally feels incomplete as a result.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Without the pressure of having to establish Spider-Man’s backstory and a new adventure in one movie, Sam Raimi crafted a compelling story in Spider-Man 2 focused on Peter Parker’s connection with a gifted scientist (Alfred Molina, who delivers what many consider the best performance in the entire Spider-Man series). This scientist is ultimately corrupted by his own unchecked ambition and a dangerous set of robotic arms. Even after more than 15 years, the film still looks fantastic – the train sequence remains a standout moment in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The way the movie relentlessly throws problem after problem at Peter Parker makes the ultimately happy, yet poignant, ending feel truly earned.

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

While more isn’t always better, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse truly delivers on both counts – it’s the best Spider-Man movie and the best film based on a Marvel comic. The movie features a large team of Spider-People, including the new hero Miles Morales, the determined Gwen Stacy, and a down-on-his-luck Peter B. Parker. Beyond the action, it powerfully emphasizes the core message from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko – that anyone can be a hero – and brings it to life with stunning animation. It’s the definitive Spider-Man story.

2026-02-24 22:29