Sony's Spider-Man Universe is officially ending

Keep reaching, Miles. According to The Wrap help is nowhere to be found for the Sony Pictures Universe of Spider-Man Characters, and no amount of Spidey sense can get it back.

Brazil hosted its Comic-Con Experience (CCXP) last weekend at the time of this post, and as in recent years, expectations were hot that studio panels would have packed rooms full of giddy nerds awaiting news about the 2025 slate of comic book movies.

With only a week before the domestic premiere of Kraven the Hunter, Sony Pictures couldn't wait to welcome a throng of fans who appreciated their version of the hijacked IP Marvel universe. In the words of Umberto Gonzalez via a fan in attendance, "[It] played to rows of empty seats. There were no stars and not that many fans. Just silence where superhero hype should have been."

Ouch.

Evidently, the sea of open seats created a drowning volume that Sony Pictures could not overcome. The report shares that the studio is ceasing to plan or produce all spinoffs within the Spider-Man franchise that do not involve, you know, Spider-Man.

It was a valiant attempt at creating a separate CBM entertainment line. The Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy notwithstanding, the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU) flip-flopped over the years, but the relatively recent launch of its villains wing just hasn't taken off in the way that the studio hoped. Where's the curse in these movies? Why did those fascinating characters never strike a chord of loyalty with the Marvel fandom?

How the Web at Sony Pictures stopped sticking

The idea began with The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The supporting characters in the Spider-Man franchise, namely those of his Rogues Gallery, would garner origin stories beginning with Venom. That was 2014, and it took only months for that idea to vanish like a fart in the wind. Many believed it was because of the critical jibes the movie received. Although it earned $706 million at the global box office, the North American box office couldn't cover the estimated $250 million budget.

Whatever the reason, the timing was conspicuous. In 2015, Sony announced a deal to (finally) start working with Marvel Studios. The news release stated, "Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web-slinger." That creative direction took form with a supporting role in 2016's Captain America: Civil War before he headlined his own movie in 2017, with Spider-Man: Homecoming. It was an $880 million take and all the gas needed for Sony Pictures to race on their own and bring that idea of a Spider-Verse from four years ago back to life.

That's how Venom arrived in October 2018. Tom Hardy plus Spider-Man's beloved nemesis equals repeat tickets at the movies. The gamble was a safe bet, as the film earned $856 million worldwide, with $256 million domestically. The interest got people to the theaters, but would quality keep them there? Two months later, Sony's animated adventure Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse arrived but only earned $374 million globally - a strong start given its $90 million budget, but not necessarily Spidey numbers.

That dichotomy of earning would create debate and hubbub for three years. As we know, Venom brought people to the movies because of the promise of what should have been. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse kept people at the movies because of what happened. Fans offered a mea culpa. The proof was June 2023 when Miles Morales' animated sequel earned over $681 million. Meanwhile, October 2021 saw Venom: Let There Be Carnage earn 41.3% less than the first film. Then, the dance card wasn't full at all as Venom 3 earned 6% less than that worldwide. Yes, the three Venom movies were successful as standalone movies, but the franchise's momentum decreased with each one of them.

The foundation of the SSU was an animated version of Spider-Man and all his alternates and a popular symbiote who has only been screwed up on screen. Those weren't gambling; they were considered safe bets. The strategy was for those who would earn the trust of audiences, and the chances would be ventured on Morbius and Madame Web. Together, those two damp squibs earned $262 million worldwide. "Flop" was generous. They didn't find an audience nor create interest in Tier 3 or 4 characters.

Kraven likely won't hunt down profits

Consider the genius of this move: It is premiere week for Kraven the Hunter, and fans are planning to give the film a shot because of a compelling red-band trailer. And before Aaron Taylor-Johnson has a chance to win over fans, the zebra-print rug out has been pulled out from under the guy and throttles the movie before we have a chance to see the farce of a potential post-credit scene.

Your friends at Bam Smack Pow aren't the most astute of MBA candidates, but that is a business plan that sucks out loud. Despite the literal years of delays in releasing the film, Sony Pictures decided to bury all future projects in a dark, dingy corner. By our count, there were seven new projects related to Spider-Man's Rogues Gallery that Sony Pictures planned on putting on the screen.

“They’ve developed what they want to develop for now,” an agent told The Wrap. "It’s really about the next ‘Spider-Man’ film.”

Actually, there are five of them for Sony Pictures: a potential Tom Holland trilogy, an anticipated Spider-Noir series with Nicolas Cage, and the final animated smash for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which is bound to approach $1 billion. Now, that is a better business plan. There's also math.

Morbius earned $160 million. Madame Web barely broke $100 million. And Kraven the Hunter cost $110 million to make and is now expected to flop. Maybe that writing on the wall (and in business spreadsheets) is just flung batpoo from all the bats Morbius used for his anti-hero serum? Guess we will find out this week.