The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Sony Pictures has ensnared filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton in its web, as he's signed a three-year overall deal with the studio. This comes after the record-breaking box office success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
According to the trade, Cretton will develop and produce films for Sony through his production company, Hisako Films. The company's President, Jeyun Munford, will work alongside him.
While the deal does not cover directing, it's said that Sony is "very eager" to get Cretton in the director's chair to helm Spider-Man 5. While it seems highly likely that he'll eventually tackle the sequel, it appears the pact frees him up to work for other studios, meaning a Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follow-up could still happen at Marvel Studios.
Regardless, both Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures will have to wait, as Cretton is busy developing Naruto for Lionsgate. Cameras start rolling next year, with the Short Term 12 helmer behind the camera.
Sanford Panitch, Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group President, said, "Destin is a very special human, a deeply thoughtful visionary mind, a brilliant filmmaker in its truest sense and a marvellous storyteller who is a master at understanding the cinematic experience. We at Sony are proud to be making a future together and expanding our relationship with Destin, Jeyun and Hisako Films."
Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman added, "Destin is the real deal, and we are lucky as hell to be in ongoing business with him and his team. Po'okela!"
"I had the best time making Brand New Day with Tom Rothman, Sanford Panitch and their team," Cretton noted, "and I’m so excited to tell more meaningful stories that people can experience in theaters around the world."
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed $2.452 billion worldwide since opening at the end of July. It was #1 at the U.S. box office for six consecutive weeks, and is the highest-grossing movie of all-time domestically.
In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it's a Brand New Day for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter that he may not have the power to control.
But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.
In our review, we concluded by saying, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day is everything fans could want. Emotional, hilarious, and heartfelt, it’s an action-packed love letter to the comics and one of Spidey’s best big-screen adventures. Spider-Man has never been more amazing."
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters.