The director of Sony's Black Cat and Silver Sable movie, Gina Prince-Bythewood, says she sought advice from Wonder Woman helmer Patty Jenkins. With the rise of superhero movies, movie studios have worked to capitalize on their extensive comic book source material by bringing a number of characters - both well and lesser known - to life through a shared universe. Marvel Studios has its Marvel Cinematic Universe, Warner Bros the DC Extended Universe, and 2oth Century Fox its X-Men franchise. Marvel and Sony Pictures broke new ground when it was revealed Spider-Man (the movie rights of which belong to Sony) would be joining the MCU, which happened in last year's Captain America: Civil War, while Tom Holland's Peter Parker will receive his own solo film in this year's Spider-Man: Homecoming.
However, Sony owns the film rights to a number of other Marvel Comics characters and they will be coming to the big screen via Venom and Silver and Black. While it's unclear how these movies relate to the MCU - Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said there would be no crossover, but Sony's Amy Pascal called them 'adjuncts' to the MCU - they're set to bring three beloved Spider-Man characters to life. In the case of Silver and Black, it will also be the second big-budget superhero movie to be directed solely by a woman after Jenkins' Wonder Woman (Captain Marvel will be helmed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck).
In an interview with Vulture, Silver and Black director Gina Prince-Bythewood revealed she met Jenkins at a meeting for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and asked for advice in helming the superhero project. Prince-Bythewood said of Jenkins, "She dropped a couple gems for me, which I will keep to myself for now. But it was just an immediate connection." Vulture additionally reports the two directors have set up a lunch date where they'll swap more stories.
In addition to teasing her friendship with Jenkins and the advice the Wonder Woman director provided, Prince-Bythewood offered an update on the production of Silver and Black, which doesn't have a release date yet. She confirmed they're aiming for a fall 2017 start date on Silver and Black, and said she's diving into script revisions next with casting hopefully beginning soon. Prince-Bythewood said of the production process:
I go to bed thinking about it, I wake up thinking about it, and during the day, I have my notebook where I’m jotting down ideas and visuals and music. It’s so up my alley in terms of these two female characters and who they are and what they’re about. It’s the perfect way for me to dive into the Marvel universe, to focus on these two women who I really respect and can’t wait to bring to life.
Prince-Bythewood does have experience working within the Marvel universe since she directed the pilot episode of Freeform's Cloak & Dagger - which does officially take place within the MCU. However, her other feature length credits are largely dramas, like Love & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees. As such, there's no doubt certain areas unique to a superhero blockbuster production to which Jenkins will be able to offer insight. Plus, with Prince-Bythewood only the second woman to helm a big budget superhero film on her own, Jenkins is one of the few people who understands the undertaking of Silver and Black.
While it remains to be seen if Silver and Black becomes as much of a success as Wonder Woman, Prince-Bythewood seems dedicated to giving Black Cat and Silver Sable the best possible live-action adaptation. With as much enthusiasm for the project as the director has, it seems likely Silver and Black will offer a compelling take on the Marvel Comics characters and a fresh entry in the massively popular superhero movie genre.
Next: What Could Sony’s Silver Sable and Black Cat Movie Be About?
Source: Vulture
