Earlier today, we learned that Sony Pictures removed its planned Spider-Man spin-off, El Muerto, from its release schedule, and some more details on the studio's reasons for shelving the project have now come to light.
According to THR, the movie was a victim of the ongoing WGA strike, as the script still needed some work before shooting could get underway.
While El Muerto has not been outright cancelled yet, rapper and part-time pro-wrestler Bad Bunny's hectic touring schedule may mean he can only remain attached to star for so long, so the film might wind up falling by the wayside.
The supporting cast had not been finalized, but the studio was reportedly eyeing wrestler and The Mandalorian actress Mercedes Varnado (formerly known as Sasha Banks, currently going by Mercedes Monet) for an undisclosed role, and Marvin Jones III to play the villainous Tombstone (Jones voiced the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).
Though we can't see too many comic book fans being overly disappointed by this news, El Muerto was to be the first live-action Marvel project to feature a Latino lead, so it would be a shame if it never saw the light of day.
Jonás Cuarón, the son of filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, was in line to direct, and the feature was slated for a theatrical release on January 12, 2024.