Could it be that after six films, several turkeys, diminishing box office returns and a host of abandoned projects, Sony is finally ready to call time on its plans to milk the Spider-Man movie rights for all they’re worth with a Spidey-free shared cinematic universe?
According to a report from The Wrap, the studio is putting its plans for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe on hold following the release of the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-headlined Kraven the Hunter. The $110 million-budgeted film opens in cinemas this week and is tracking a domestic opening weekend of south of $15 million, which would set a new franchise low behind this year’s box office disaster Madame Web.
Kraven the Hunter is Sony’s third Marvel release of the year after Madame Web and Venom: The Last Dance, the latter of which grossed $472.8 million following its release back in October. However, that’s down considerably from 2018’s Venom ($856 million) and below its 2021 sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage ($507 million), and with Morbius ($167 million) and Madame Web ($100 million) haemorrhaging money and Kraven seemingly on course to do the same, it would appear the Tom Hardy-led trilogy hasn’t brought in enough to balance the books overall.
It should be noted at this point that Sony is yet to officially sound the death knell on the ‘SSU’, with Venom: The Last Dance director Kelly Marcel having been hyping Sony’s future plans for the villain Knull back in October. Either way, Sony isn’t out of the Spidey game entirely, with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse still to come (albeit undated), the live-action Nicolas Cage-led Spider-Noir TV series is in production for Amazon and MGM. The studio is also set to reunite with Marvel Studios to co-produce the as-yet-untitled Spider-Man 4 for release in 2026… unless of course Sony finally decides its time to cash in and take that Disney money before the superhero bubble bursts entirely?
SEE ALSO: Watch the opening eight minutes of Sony’s Kraven the Hunter with extended preview
Is it time that Sony let go of Spider-Man? Could anything save this Spider-Man Universe? Let us know your thoughts on our socials @FlickeringMyth…
“Kraven the Hunter is the visceral, action-packed origin story of how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.”
Kraven the Hunter is directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the title role alongside Russell Crowe, Alessandro Nivola, Ariana DeBose, Levi Miller, and Christopher Abbott.
Kraven the Hunter is released on December 13th.
