Sony’s Spider-Verse in Trouble: What’s Next for Its Marvel Spin-offs?
Sony’s Marvel movies: A journey from ambition to disappointment!
Sony Pictures had ambitious plans to build a cinematic universe around Spider-Man’s extended roster of characters. However, as of now, that dream seems to be crumbling. While Marvel Studios turned lesser known heroes like ‘Iron Man’ and the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ into global sensations, Sony’s attempts to replicate that magic have largely failed.
Sony’s Struggling Spider-Verse: What’s Going Wrong?
Sony’s spin-offs, like Venom, Morbius, and Madame Web, have faced criticism for poor storytelling, subpar execution and questionable character choices. Despite a strong start with Venom (2018), its sequels, Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Venom 3, faced diminishing box office returns. Madame Web is the latest casualty, with disastrous box office performance and negative reviews citing its incoherent narrative as a major flaw. With Kraven the Hunter on the horizon, box office projections look grim. Industry insiders predict that it might be the final nail in the coffin for Sony’s standalone Marvel ventures.
What Went Wrong?
Unlike Marvel Studios, which builds compelling character arcs and interwoven narratives, Sony’s Spider-Verse spin-offs seem to suffer from one major issue which is “lack of quality control”. A Sony insider revealed that these films often feel like projects nobody asked for and Madame Web was one such fine example, where even dedicated Spider-Man fans struggled to see the relevance of the film.
A top talent agent confirmed to ‘The Wrap’ that Sony may be done experimenting with B-tier or lesser known Spider-Man villains. Instead, the studio is now shifting focus to proven winners like Tom Holland’s next Spider-Man movie, the Spider-Verse animated sequel, and the Spider-Noir TV series featuring Veteran Hollywood Star ‘Nicolas Cage’. Unlike the spin-offs that avoided Spider-Man, these new projects will focus on the web-slinger himself, a strategy that might yield better results.
Venom’s Diminishing Returns & Madame Web’s Flop: A Misstep No One Asked For
When Venom was released in 2018, it was a surprise hit, earning over $850 million globally. But the magic didn’t last. Venom: Let There Be Carnage still drew an audience but failed to match its predecessor’s success. The third installment, Venom 3, saw an even bigger dip in interest. Critics pointed out that the films leaned too heavily on spectacle and humor while ignoring solid storytelling. Also, Madame Web was supposed to be Sony’s answer to Marvel’s success with lesser known characters. But the film turned into a commercial and critical disaster. Poor execution, confusing plotlines, and lack of relevance to Spider-Man’s main story led to one of Sony’s biggest box office embarrassments. Viewers and critics alike questioned why the film was even made.
What’s Next for Sony’s Marvel Universe?
With Kraven the Hunter set to release soon, all eyes are on how it performs. Early box office forecasts aren’t optimistic, and fans remain skeptical. Will it be a turning point or yet another misfire? Sony’s Marvel dreams might hinge on its performance, and if it fails, it could be the last time we see Sony attempt a spin-off without Spider-Man himself.
If Kraven the Hunter fails, it might mark the end of Sony’s ambitious attempt at a solo Marvel cinematic universe. For now, their best bet is to keep Spider-Man front and center. After all, no one spins a better story than Spidey. Cheers – Comics Byte!!
Read More: स्पाइडर-मैन इंडिया – एक्रॉस द स्पाइडर-वर्स (Spider-Man India – Across The Spider-Verse)
SPIDER-MAN: KRAVEN’S LAST HUNT
