Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has been full of promises, but many planned movies have never made it to the big screen. Despite the success of Venom, most other SSU films have failed to impress audiences.
The recent flop of Kraven the Hunter in December 2024 only highlighted the struggles Sony has faced with its Spider-Man spinoff plans.
The idea of creating a Spider-Man universe without Spider-Man has been ambitious. Sony has tried to focus on Spider-Man’s villains and side characters, but most of these films have failed to connect with fans.
After Venom, which did well at the box office, Sony promised more films, but many of them were either canceled or reworked.
Some of the most talked-about projects that never happened include:
- Sinister Six: In 2013, Sony teased a movie about Spider-Man’s most famous villains. The film was planned as a two-parter, but after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 didn’t perform well, Sony changed direction and partnered with Marvel Studios.
- Silver and Black: This film was meant to feature Spider-Man characters Silver Sable and Black Cat. Although director Gina Prince-Bythewood was attached, the project was eventually shelved and reworked as a TV series, which also never came to fruition.
- El Muerto: Bad Bunny was set to star in this film about a wrestler with superpowers. However, after several delays and the failure of Madame Web and Kraven, El Muerto was removed from Sony’s release schedule.
- Hypno-Hustler: Donald Glover was rumored to star as a musical villain in a film about Hypno-Hustler. The idea was considered one of Sonyโs oddest, and it seems unlikely to happen now.
- Jackpot: A movie about a character named Jackpot, who has superhuman strength, was also in the works but never fully developed.
- Silk: Spider Society: This project, based on the superheroine Silk, was eventually turned into a TV series for Amazon Prime, but it never materialized.
Sony has also toyed with the idea of films based on Spider-Woman, Mysterio, and even Aunt May. For now, the studio is focusing on what has worked so far.
Upcoming projects include a third Spider-Verse film, a fourth Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland, and a Spider-Noir TV series set for 2025.
While Sonyโs Spider-Man Universe may be in trouble, it continues to push forward with its plans, hoping to find success with future releases.
