Imagine a superhero universe crashing and burning before your very eyes – that's the story of Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU). It was a bold attempt to replicate Marvel's success, but it ended up being a spectacular failure. The SSU launched with Venom in 2018, but by 2024, Kraven the Hunter delivered the final, fatal blow. The big question is: could it have been saved?
The SSU's fundamental flaw? Trying to build a Spider-Man cinematic universe without Spider-Man. Audiences just weren't buying it. Out of six films, five were both box office and critical disasters. But here's where it gets controversial... Sony had access to a treasure trove of Spider-Man characters that fans actually cared about. With a few strategic spinoffs, they might have turned the tide.
1. Black Cat: The Anti-Hero We Deserved
Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, is more than just a Spider-Man villain; she's a compelling anti-hero in her own right. This cat burglar with a flirty relationship with Spidey has become a fan favorite. Sony reportedly considered a Black Cat spinoff, possibly teaming her with Silver Sable, but those plans were scrapped. And this is the part most people miss... Unlike Morbius or Madame Web, a Black Cat movie had serious potential.
Black Cat's versatility is her strength. Sony could have portrayed her as a villain, an anti-hero, or even a reluctant hero. Her complex backstory and playful personality would have given the SSU a much-needed dose of charisma. Surprisingly, despite her popularity, Black Cat hasn't appeared in a Spider-Man movie, although Felicity Jones played Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Now, rumors suggest she might appear in the MCU's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Will Marvel give her the spotlight Sony never did?
2. Agent Venom: The Heroic Substitute
In the comics, Flash Thompson, Peter Parker's former bully turned friend, becomes Agent Venom. After losing his legs in Afghanistan, Flash is recruited for a government program that has captured the Venom symbiote. Bonding with the alien restores his legs and allows him to fight evil. As Agent Venom, Flash becomes a genuinely cool hero.
Rumors of an Agent Venom movie surfaced after Venom: The Last Dance. The film even references a masked character named Thompson. This could have given the SSU what it desperately needed: a hero to fill the void left by Spider-Man. While exciting, these rumors came too late. With the SSU gone, an Agent Venom spinoff seems unlikely.
3. Doctor Octopus: The Iconic Villain Ignored
Doctor Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus, is a top-tier Spider-Man villain. His genius intellect and four mechanical arms make him a formidable foe. Doc Ock has battled Spider-Man countless times and even won on occasion. Despite his importance, he's only been portrayed once in live-action, and not in the SSU.
Sony's focus on obscure characters like Morbius and Madame Web is baffling, especially considering their access to icons like Doctor Octopus. While fans would prefer to see Doc Ock fight Spider-Man, a solo origin story would still be more appealing than films about D-list villains like El Muerto and the Hypno-Hustler. By the SSU's end, Sony still hadn't realized this. Literally anything involving Doctor Octopus would have been more interesting to fans than characters no one has heard of.
4. Spider-Woman: A Central Figure Lost
The SSU seemed obsessed with villains and anti-heroes. Even without Spider-Man, Sony could have used other members of the Spider-Family, like Spider-Woman. Jessica Drew has similar powers to Spider-Man but operates in different circles. A former spy with ties to Hydra, Spider-Woman is a complex hero.
Even if Sony wanted morally gray characters, Spider-Woman would fit perfectly. Her history as a double agent often blurs the lines between hero and villain. Spider-Woman could have been the central figure of the SSU, perhaps as its complicated protagonist. Sony missed an opportunity to develop a character who deserves more recognition and hasn't appeared in live-action.
5. The Green Goblin Legacy: A Franchise Untapped
The Green Goblin is Spider-Man's scariest and most iconic villain. Yet, Sony avoided including him in the SSU. The SSU had options for a Green Goblin movie: Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn, Phil Urich, or even Hobgoblin or Queen Goblin. But the Green Goblin is never even mentioned in the SSU, which instead focused on obscure villains.
The Green Goblin's legacy is dramatic and complex enough to build a franchise around. The intense relationship between Norman and Harry Osborn, with a son trying to escape his father's shadow, would have made for an emotionally rich story. This was what the SSU lacked. In six movies, it never offered anything unique. The Green Goblin could have been an excellent subject for a film trilogy that reinvented the genre.
6. Silver Sable: The Underrated Ally
Silver Sablinova, aka Silver Sable, is the princess of Symkaria and leader of the Wild Pack, an international mercenary group. Originally an enemy of Spider-Man, she eventually became his ally. Her adventures take her around the globe as she fights terrorists and dictators.
Silver Sable is another anti-hero whose adventures would have been more interesting than Morbius or Madame Web. A film following her character could have blended the spy genre with high-octane action. Audiences would have enjoyed a story about Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, who have never appeared in live-action.
7. Kraven's Last Hunt: A Missed Opportunity
While Sony's choices of subjects for spinoffs were questionable, Kraven the Hunter had potential. Unfortunately, Sony wasted him with a lackluster origin story that failed to capture the character's best elements. Kraven the Hunter (2024) tried too hard to make him a hero, rewriting his motivation to fight for animal life rather than hunt big game. The comics offered a much better story.
"Kraven's Last Hunt" is a seminal storyline about the villain's descent into madness as he makes a final attempt on Spider-Man's life. When Kraven the Hunter was announced, fans expected it to adapt this storyline. However, the film bears no resemblance to "Kraven's Last Hunt," which may be the biggest missed opportunity in the SSU. Even without Spider-Man, a film based on this story could have been a dark and tragic tale that did justice to Kraven's character.
8. Scarlet Spider: The Spider-Man Substitute
Despite building a Spider-Man universe, Sony avoided including Spider-Man. This left a void in the SSU, lacking a character to tie everything together. However, Sony had alternatives. They owned the film rights to many heroes who could have filled Spider-Man's shoes. Perhaps the best was Ben Reilly, aka the Scarlet Spider.
Ben Reilly is a popular Marvel character who deserves more attention. A clone of Peter Parker created by Professor Miles Warren, Reilly becomes the Scarlet Spider. The comics often sideline Ben Reilly in favor of Spider-Man, but the SSU could have given the Scarlet Spider the spotlight.
9. Maximum Carnage: A Darker Adaptation Needed
Venom: Let There Be Carnage was disappointing partly because of its handling of Carnage. Cletus Kasady, aka Carnage, is one of Marvel's deadliest villains, leaving a trail of bodies. Let There Be Carnage was loosely based on the "Maximum Carnage" storyline, but a straighter adaptation would have been more satisfying.
"Maximum Carnage" follows the symbiote as he builds a "family" of villains and wreaks havoc in New York City, killing dozens. This storyline lets Carnage flourish in one of Marvel's darkest stories, a far cry from the toned-down version in the SSU. An R-rated film exploring Carnage's depravity would have appealed to fans. It's inconceivable that Sony gave an R-rating to Kraven the Hunter but not a Carnage film.
10. The Sinister Six: A Team-Up That Never Was
Even before the SSU, Sony planned a Sinister Six movie featuring Spider-Man's villains teaming up. Originally, it would have been set in The Amazing Spider-Man world and included Andrew Garfield's hero. Later, Sony considered a Sinister Six film in the SSU with characters like Morbius, Venom, the Vulture, and Kraven the Hunter. While this film never happened, it could have saved the SSU.
While Spider-Man might not have been thrilled with a Sinister Six movie, the idea is enough to entice audiences. Sony could have saved its universe had it set up the Sinister Six meaningfully. The only setup came in Morbius's post-credits scenes, which became a joke. Morbius's failure scared Sony away from the Sinister Six, leading them to pivot toward a King in Black storyline. Neither crossover happened, and the SSU ended in 2024.
So, what do you think? Could any of these projects have saved Sony's Spider-Man Universe, or was it doomed from the start? Which character would you have most liked to see get their own film? Let us know in the comments!
