Last week, Madame Web was released in theaters and almost immediately cemented its legacy as one of the worst superhero movies ever made. That was no easy feat after Morbius in 2022, not to mention the mixed response both Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage received.
There's something seriously wrong with the SSU (Sony's Spider-Man Universe) and amid talks of "superhero fatigue," the damage Sony Pictures is doing to Spider-Man and the comic book movie genre is massive.
Now, we're taking a look at how the studio can right this ship and, hopefully, turn things around. That won't be easy at this stage, but when they have access to such an amazing roster of heroes and villains, there's really no reason why the SSU can't be fixed...by following any of these steps!
Take a look through this breakdown by clicking on the "Next"/"View List" button below.
6. Fire The Producers; Enlist A New Creative Team
We're not sure why Avi Arad isn't a credited producer on Madame Web, particularly as he remains a huge part of Sony's live-action Marvel movies. We'd like to think the studio has parted ways with him after Morbius but, unfortunately, wouldn't bank on it. Well, at least not for now, anyway.
Longtime Transformers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura did no better with Madame Web than Arad has on his efforts, so it's become clear Sony needs to enlist someone who can take charge of the SSU, perhaps heading up a writers' room similar to what James Gunn has done with the DCU.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are the most obvious suggestions after their work on the animated Spider-Verse franchise. Ultimately, it should be someone who fully understands Spider-Man and the characters who surround him; from there, build a proper shared world or, at the very least, a slate of standalone stories.
5. Get Out Of The Early 2000s Mindset
One thing Venom, Morbius, and Madame Web all have in common is that it feels like they were all made in the early 2000s. The movies are very much in line with Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Blade: Trinity, and the other awful comic book adaptations many of us lived through.
We're not sure how or why this has happened, but a certain out-of-touch producer (yes, we're talking about you again, Avi) likely needs to take most of the blame. Then again, if he truly wasn't involved with Madame Web, why did that movie fail to give us more than a minute or two of superhero costumes?
Sony appears to be massively out of touch, though this isn't news to us. Look no further than how Venom was forced into Spider-Man 3 or that awful attempt to set up the Sinister Six in The Amazing Spider-Man 2...outside of animation, they just don't get this genre.
4. Bring Back What Worked
Not everything about Sony's Marvel movies has been a failure. The visual effects are typically much better than those seen in the DCEU, for example, and there have been some stellar casting choices (how the characters are portrayed from there is often the problem).
The weird dynamic between Eddie Brock and Venom has mostly worked; visually, Jared Leto's Morbius looked badass; in Madame Web, the three Spider-Women were fun to spend time with and watching them kick ass - even if it was for less than 90 seconds - was a blast.
So, even if a reboot is looming, let's not forget that there are certain elements of the SSU which could benefit whatever comes next. They will, however, likely need a fresh lick of paint.
3. Add Spider-Man To The Mix
Look, we can all agree that Peter Parker is better off in the MCU but it's time for Sony to use a Spider-Man of their own. Moviegoers aren't stupid and can differentiate between two different versions of the same character, especially after Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Whether it's Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield, or even one of the other heroes - like Miles Morales - to have held the Spider-Man mantle, these spin-off movies need a wall-crawler.
Sydney Sweeney's Spider-Woman is another possibility that instantly springs to mind. Regardless, giving characters like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter their own stories simply makes no sense without a spider-themed hero, and we shudder at the thought of those rumoured Doctor Octopus and Mysterio projects.
2. Build These Stories Around A Central Character
If Spider-Man isn't an option, then it needs to be someone. We've mentioned Spider-Woman and Venom, but even characters like Silver Sable and Prowler could fit the bill. Assembling the Sinister Six is all well and good, but Sony has already fallen at the first hurdle on that front.
Morbius saw The Vulture awkwardly suggest to the Living Vampire - a wanted killer - that they could form a heroic team. It was ludicrous and not what fans want to see when there's no Spider-Man for the villains to fight.
It doesn't even need to be a hero; had Sony seeded Oscorp throughout these movies, the Ultimate Green Goblin would have made a suitably formidable antagonist and justified the likes of Venom and Kraven the Hunter coming together. But no, Sony, you just go ahead and make El Muerto instead.
1. Return The Rights To Marvel Studios
We'd imagine Sony wanting billions of dollars to part with Spider-Man. Disney already owns the wall-crawler's lucrative merchandising rights, so recouping these costs would take a long time as they'd be relying pretty much on box office receipts alone.
With Spidey a permanent part of the MCU, Marvel Studios could build the slate of movies and TV shows that Sony appears incapable of dreaming up. Multiple Spider-Man franchises, spin-offs for Venom and Black Cat, and even the Sinister Six...the possibilities are endless under Kevin Feige's watch.
Do we think this will happen? No. Still, three or four more flops like Madame Web, and Sony might be a little more open to the idea...