Cancelled Marvel project reportedly making a comeback

Marvel Comics projects are dominating the movie and TV landscape right now. But we shouldn't be surprised, for Marvel projects - and comic book projects in general - have been dominating the landscape for over a decade now, thanks in no small part to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sometimes, however, for one reason or another a project just doesn't get made. Whether that's down to cancellations or years spent in development hell, some of them just don't manifest in spite of how popular the source material they are based on is. And as upsetting as that can be, it's all a part of the business.

However, on a rare few occasions, a project can be revived, and according to a new report, a project based on a Marvel Comics character may have made an unexpected comeback.

Sony's Silver Sable project back in the works, according to insider

Industry insider Daniel Richtman reports that the previously-cancelled Silver Sable outing is back on the board as Sony is once again developing a project centred on the character. That's quite the twist, because the project underwent quite a number of changes throughout its original development cycle before it was cancelled, but it's an exciting twist nonetheless. It had remained one of the most intriguing comic book projects that never was, and now it might actually get the chance to show us if the intrigue surrounding it was worth it.

Sony originally announced plans for a Silver Sable and Black Cat crossover movie back in 2017 to serve as part of what is now called the Sony Pictures Universe of Spider-Man Characters. That film series launched with Venom in 2018 and has produced a number of films focused on the Marvel webslinger's friends, foes, and supporting characters - to varied degrees of success. But Silver and Black (as it became known) was not one of them.

Gina Prince-Blythewood was announced as its director, but a number of delays to the movie's release resulted in its eventual cancellation. But Sony hadn't quite given up on the idea, reimagining it as two separate movies - one focused on Silver Sable and the other on Black Cat. It was then reimagined again, with both characters set to team up once more in a Silver and Black TV series before it was quietly cancelled.

It's interesting to hear that Sony might be interested in bringing Silver Sable back for a new project as the shared universe of Spider-Man characters is at a bit of a crossroads. None of the titles have been received particularly well but the Venom movies are extremely popular with audiences and have consistently exceeded box office expectations, and now the release of the third movie, Venom: The Last Dance, will bring the Tom Hardy-led franchise to a close. Meanwhile, other outings such as Morbius and Madame Web have failed with audiences and critics, underperforming at the box office.

Perhaps Sony is looking for another popular character to find success with on film or television (we don't know whether the rumored Silver Sable project will be a movie or a TV series as of yet). The studio does have Kraven the Hunter on the horizon, but after that, it will likely look to build out the franchise with more Spider-Man characters. Silver Sable might be next on that list.

The character made her Marvel Comics debut in 1985 and often finds herself as a friend or foe of Spider-Man. A mercenary, she often hunts war criminals in her comic book adventures (which explains why she often finds herself in conflict with Spidey and other Marvel heroes). If she does appear in the long-awaited Sony project, it will mark her live-action debut.

As for Black Cat, she has been rumored to join the MCU in the not-too-distant future, where she would no doubt cross paths with Spider-Man himself.