Thank you Sony for giving us the Spider-Man Universe

Spider-Man Universe. Image: Sony Pictures Releasing

I feel bad that Sony decided to end its Spider-Man Universe with movies that flopped, except for the Venom trilogy. Films like “Madame Web,” “Morbius” and, unfortunately, it seems even “Kraven the Hunter” might – and the key word is “might” – fall short of expectations to break even. However, who knows? We might see different results once a few weeks have passed and the numbers are tallied. The same skepticism surrounded the first Venom movie, which ended up making over 800 million dollars on a modest budget. So, who knows, right? If you understand these Marvel comic book characters, you know their significance, so it is no longer a shot in the dark if the big screen adaptation is handled properly.

A couple of days ago, I was planning to write about the Sinister Six when I received confirmed reports that Sony was moving forward with the pre-production stage of the film. This caught my attention. Unfortunately, I recently learned that it has been canceled. I believe it is always concerning when a project suddenly comes to an abrupt halt without any notice to the public, particularly those who follow these movies. I do not think it was due to a lack of effort on their part; no one in a movie studio wants the film they have been working on to fail, regardless of their role or position. While there are reasons why the movie may not have met expectations, it is not about blaming others but rather accepting responsibility for the outcome.

What a huge loss that the much-awaited Sinister Six project has been completely scrapped. But what can you expect when the roster includes characters like Madame Web and others who were never part of the original super-villain group in Marvel Comics? Why include on-screen characters that fail to connect with their intended audience and are disliked for valid reasons? If this had happened in the mid to late 2000s, there might have been a better chance for the Sinister Six to succeed, as it was a much stronger time for filmmaking, with no obstacles, as evidenced by the Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man movies starring Tobey Maguire.

In my estimation, if “Morbius” and “Madame Web” had been made during the enjoyable era of comic book-based movies, I believe they would be almost completely different from the versions we have today. As I have mentioned before, our surroundings, society, and personal tastes in movies play crucial roles in what movie studios think the final product should be. If we had brought the woke movement to the 2000s, I am certain we would have received the same disappointing results. So, who is to blame? It is obvious, right? It is because these groups did not exist back then that we have so many classic comic book-based movies from those years.

You need the right people to handle all these movies: knowledgeable producers, writers, and directors. Actors should be familiar with at least some of the history of the characters they are portraying. They should not be restricted or told what they can or cannot do by a group from the Woke movement, as happened with “Madame Web.” I remember that a few years ago, during the pre-development phase, there were discussions about featuring a more comic-book version of its co-stars from the ’90s version of Spider-Woman. I am referring to the Spider-Woman who knew Karate with the black and white costume design. However, certain groups objected, claiming that the depiction would be too sexy, offensive, and other nonsense. As a result, they had to abandon that plan, and all their other plans, and we ended up with what we got in “Madame Web.” On another note, the marketing campaign misled many people, including me, and gave us only a few minutes to see all the different versions of the Spider-Women from past eras in Marvel Comics in their comic book accurate costumes. In essence, the price of the movie ticket was only for a few minutes of what you were supposed to originally watch in cinemas. “Madame Web” was a dud! 

“Morbius” became a victim of societal circumstances that prevented the character from being portrayed as he is in Marvel Comics. The movie contained many elements that did not make sense to those familiar with Morbius. Instead of resembling the Blade films, it turned out to be a disappointment. What a letdown that movie was, with only brief glimpses of what it could have been. If they had only included Morbius in his comic-book-accurate costume, it would have made a world of difference. Morbius has always been one of the coolest Marvel Comics characters since the ’90s when he re-debuted in the pages of Ghost Rider, Darkhold, and The Midnight Sons. There was so much potential for Morbius, but they sadly failed to capitalize on all the great aspects of “The Living Vampire,” which is Morbius’s moniker. They may have chosen the right actor, Jared Leto, to portray Morbius, but the script was full of plot holes. The story was not engaging enough for audiences and did not reach its full potential given the nature of Morbius.

Now, “Kraven the Hunter” is Sony’s final entry into its Spider-Man Universe, as I mentioned in my entertainment article about it. I do not care what the naysayers say or what others forcibly tell me, even though I keep telling them I do not want their negativity. I will go to the cinema and watch it with fresh eyes, a fresh perspective, and fresh enthusiasm.

Thank you Sony for giving us the Spider-Man Universe.