Venom is the first Sony-Marvel film in a planned Spider-Man villain universe - and there's a lot more on the way. If all goes well for Sony then Venom, in theaters this weekend, will set the ball rolling for a darker version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Once The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox is complete, the world of Peter Parker and friends will be the only major segment of the Marvel canon not exclusively under their control. And, although Spider-Man is already part of the MCU, Sony has high hopes for creating their own franchise that can both stand on its own two feet (albeit with the possibility of tying it into the MCU down the line). Spider-Man remains one of the most iconic characters in comic book lore, and his most infamous foes are equally as popular with audiences thanks to the cartoon series and Sam Raimi trilogy.
Related: Is Venom In The MCU? Marvel/Spider-Man Movie Rights & Shared Universes Explained
Their current plans, which are reportedly being referred to internally as Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, or SUMC for short, involve expanding the world of the Spidey villains into their own saga. Venom, the human-symbiote who has become one of the series’ most beloved anti-heroes, is only the starting point in these plans. Sony has a whole host of other Spider-villain movies planned. Here are the titles that are either in pre-production or are currently part of the studio's Spider-verse strategy.
- This Page: Sony's Confirmed Spider-Man Villain Films
- Page 2: Spider-Man Villain Films Sony Has In Early Development
Morbius, the Living Vampire Is The Next Spider-Man Villain Movie
In an unexpected step, Sony has confirmed that the first film to follow Venom would be one centered on Morbius, the Living Vampire, and that the lead role would be played by Jared Leto. The character was created in the 1970s when the Comics Code Authority, the industry's censorship board, lifted its ban on depictions of vampires and the supernatural. His true identity is that of Michael Morbius, a biochemist whose experiment to cure his rare blood disorder goes awry and gifts him with vampiric abilities.
The Morbius film will be directed by Life's Daniel Espinosa, based on a script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (writers of Gods of Egypt). on screenwriting duties. Morbius is also one of the favorite comic book characters of Avi Arad, who told Screen Rant at a Venom press junket:
We are excited about Morbius. Morbius was always one of my favorite characters. I love the story about the healer that becomes a killer, and how do you deal with it.
Audiences may get Morbius sooner than expected; Sony was last said to be eyeing a November start to production, making a 2019 release possible.
Read More: Morbius the Living Vampire: Who Is He, and What Are His Powers?
Venom 2 Is Likely Going To Happen
WARNING: Spoilers for Venom in this entry.
While we still have to wait for news of Venom’s success before sequel talk begins at Sony for real, it’s clear from the film itself that the studio is eager to establish follow-up films. In one of the two end-credit scenes, Eddie goes to San Quentin prison to interview a prisoner and comes face to face with serial killer Cletus Kasady, a.k.a. Carnage. The part is played by Woody Harrelson, who had previously worked with director Ruben Fleischer on Zombieland.
Like Eddie and Venom, Kasady becomes a host for the Carnage symbiote and proves to be far more powerful and deadly than Venom; in the comics, Carnage leads to Venom teaming up with Spider-Man to take on his uncontrollable rage. Introducing Carnage to their Spider-Man universe would be a strong way for Sony to bring Peter Parker together with Eddie Brock, or otherwise make him more of a hero in his own right.
Silver Sable & Black Cat Are Getting Individual Movies
Originally, Sony had announced plans for a Silver Sable and Black Cat team-up movie, to be titled Silver and Black and released in February 2019. Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of Love and Basketball as well as the pilot for Cloak and Dagger, was attached to helm the project. Now, the two characters will be given their own films and Prince-Bythewood is no longer directing, although she will still receive a producer credit.
Silver Sable (real name Silver Sablinova) is a mercenary and leader of the Wild Pack, a title she inherited from her father, who ran a Nazi-hunting team. Given the character's roots as a Nazi hunter, it would be difficult for Sony to overlook this crucial part of her backstory. However, it could also open up many storytelling possibilities. Sony are hoping to bring on another female director for the project, but other than that, little else is known about production.
Felicia Hardy, the infamous cat burglar with the ability to produce bad luck in her enemies, is one of Spider-Man's most popular adversaries as well as a collaborator and on-again, off-again romantic interest. Felicia was previously played by Felicity Jones in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where she served as Harry Osborn's assistant, but none of her extra-curricular activities fit into the stuffed movie. Black Cat will reportedly be a re-worked version of the Silver & Black script and Prince-Bythewood will remain a producer.
Page 2: Spider-Man Villain Films Sony Has In Early Development
Spike Lee Was Reportedly In Talks For Nightwatch
While no other films have gone as far in development, Sony has several other Spider-Man villain films in the works. Earlier this year, it was reported that Spike Lee had been in talks to direct a Nightwatch film, with a potential script from Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker, although both Sony and Lee declined to comment.
Doctor Kevin Trench watched a costumed man die while battling terrorists armed with invisibility devices. When he unmasked the dead men, he was shocked to realize that it was an older version of himself. Afraid for what this meant for his future, he stole the costume and fled to a deserted island in the hopes that, if he just never wore the suit, he could avoid his own death. In more recent comics, including She-Hulk, Trench is portrayed as a wealthy philanthropist who secretly spent most of his career as a supervillain and retconned everyone's memories of his nefarious past.
Kraven The Hunter Has A Script From The Equalizer's Writer
One character who's long been eyed for a solo movie is Kraven the Hunter. A Spider-Man villain who's been rumored for inclusion in movies for years - including the MCU side - it now looks like he could be getting a solo movie at Sony. In August, it was reported that a Kraven script was being written by The Equalizer's Richard Wenk, although there's been no talk of the project since then.
Kraven is one of Spider-Man's well-known villains, remembered best for the Kraven's Last Hunt arc which saw him travel to New York in a bid to hunt down and kill Spider-Man, then taking over as a more brutalized version. An involving story, it's one that would definitely lend itself well to a big screen adaptation.
Read More: Who Kraven Can Hunt In His Movie Instead Of Spider-Man
Jackpot & Silk Have Movies In Development
A couple of other movies have been reported recently. First there's Jackpot, a more recent addition to the Spider-verse, created by Dan Slott and Phil Jimenez, who only got her own mini-series in 2010. The character also has two aliases: Sara Ehret, a scientist who accidentally gives herself superhuman strength; and Alana Jacobson, who uses performance-enhancing drugs like Mutant Growth Hormone to mimic Jackpot's powers. A Jackpot movie could open new ground for Sony and the superhero genre: Sara is a 40-something woman with a daughter while Alana is a lesbian, which could bring some much-needed diversity to the field.
There's also Korean-American superhero Cindy Moon, a.k.a. Silk. Cindy first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 in April 2014. Her own powers, similar to Spider-Man's, manifested when the same radioactive spider bit her after biting Peter Parker. Unlike Peter, Silk has the ability to create organic webbing, something she has trouble controlling. She is later approached by businessman Ezekiel Sims, who offers to guide her in her newfound abilities. Cindy briefly appears in Spider-Man: Homecoming as a classmate of Peters and is portrayed by Tiffany Espensen, although the in-development Silk movie is more likely to recast.
