Sony Marvel Movies: El Muerto, Across the Spider-Verse, and Every Other Spider-Man Spin-Off in Development
Spider-Man is one of the few Marvel heroes with a supporting cast and rogues gallery wide enough to support an entire cinematic universe. And that’s exactly what Sony is trying to launch. Even as Tom Holland fans await word on where the actor will next play Spidey after Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sony is moving full speed ahead on its Spider-Man Universe. Morbius was released in April, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is starring in the upcoming Kraven movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse is getting not one but two sequels, and a fairly obscure character known as El Muerto is getting his own film as well.
To help make sense of the many Spider-Man-adjacent movies in the works, we’re breaking down every Sony Marvel movie that’s either been officially announced or rumored to be in development. Check out the slideshow gallery below or scroll down to get the scoop on Spidey’s cinematic future.
Spider-Man Spin-Off Movies
Here’s a quick bullet list of all the movies and TV shows that are in various stages of development:
- Tom Holland Spider-Man Sequels (In Development) – Dates TBD
- Kraven the Hunter (In Production) – January 13, 2023
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse/Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (In Production) – June 2, 2023/March 29, 2024
- El Muerto (In Development) – January 12, 2024
- Venom 3 (In Development) – Date TBD
- Madame Web (In Development) – Date TBD
- Silk (In Development) – Date TBD
- Untitled Female Cast Into the Spider-Verse Spin-Off (Status Unknown)
- Black Cat (Status Unknown)
- Silver Sable (Status Unknown)
- Nightwatch (Status Unknown)
- Jackpot (Status Unknown)
Read on for more details on each project.
Tom Holland Spider-Man Sequels (Dates TBD)
Status: In Development
Now that Spider-Man: No Way Home has been released, it’s a little unclear when the next appearance of Tom Holland’s wallcrawler will come. When Sony and Marvel made a new deal in 2019 to continue to share the character, which allowed No Way Home to be made, an MCU crossover film was also said to be part of that agreement. What that crossover film might be is unclear, however.
As for future solo films, during No Way Home’s press tour, producer Amy Pascal said that the thinking is that there will be at least three more Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland. It should be noted, however, that has not yet been confirmed by Sony or Marvel.
Kraven the Hunter (January 13, 2023)
Status: In Production
Sony is also shining a spotlight on Kraven the Hunter. One of Spider-Man’s oldest rogues, Kraven is a skilled hunter who sets his sights on Spider-Man after conquering all other prey in the animal kingdom. He’s also the central antagonist in the seminal comic storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt, which could easily serve as a source of inspiration for the movie. Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) and the team of Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man) wrote the screenplay. Triple Frontier director J.C. Chandor is directing the film, which will star Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven. Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola, and Russell Crowe have also been cast in the film, which is currently set for a January 13, 2023 release.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse/Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (June 2, 2023/March 29, 2024)
Status: In Production
Into the Spider-Verse was a big hit for Sony, both critically and commercially, so it’s no surprise that a sequel to the innovative film is in the works. But as we learned in the fall of 2021, there are actually two sequels in the works. Joaquim Dos Santos, known for his work on Justice League Unlimited, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, is directing the first sequel alongside Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, with the screenplay by David Callaham, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. We know the film will add Japanese Spider-Man Takuya Yamashiro to the lineup, while Oscar Isaac will reprise his role as futuristic Spider-Man 2099 Miguel O’Hara (as seen in the original film’s post-credits scene) and Issa Rae will voice Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman.
At CinemaCon in April 2022, Sony revealed that Across the Spider-Verse will feature 240 characters, six universes, and the largest crew for an animated film. In addition, the studio announced that the third Spider-Verse film is now called Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (dropping the Part One and Part Two from the sequels’ titles that had previously been announced). Both films’ release dates were delayed in April, 2022: Across the Spider-Verse is now scheduled for release on June 2, 2023, and Beyond the Spider-Verse is expected on March 29, 2024. Learn more about the Spider-Verse here.
El Muerto (January 12, 2024)
Status: In Development
At CinemaCon 2022, Sony announced El Muerto, a Spider-Man spin-off movie starring musician, producer, actor, and wrestler Bad Bunny as the title character. El Muerto is a wrestler with superpowers whose mask and abilities are passed down from generation to generation. The film will be released on January 12, 2024.
Venom 3 (Date TBD)
Status: In Development
A third Venom movie is in the works, according to producer Amy Pascal, but little is known about it at this time. Sony officially announced the film at CinemaCon in April 2022. Check out what Spider-Man: No Way Home means for the future of Venom here.
Madame Web (Date TBD)
Status: In Development
Morbius writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless are scripting a Madame Web spin-off. Also known as Cassandra Webb, Madame Web is an elderly mutant with clairvoyant powers who has been associated with various Spider-Women in the comics. Sony has reportedly hired Jessica Jones director S.J. Clarkson to direct their first female-led Marvel movie. In early 2022, Dakota Johnson was reported to be in talks to play the title character.
Silk (Date TBD)
Status: In Development
A more recent addition to Spider-Man’s world, Silk is a heroine who was bitten by the same radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his powers. Resurfacing after a decade spent locked in an underground bunker, Cindy Moon has followed the example of Spider-Man and become a costumed superhero. Cindy has actually made small appearances in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War (played by Tiffany Espensen). But we assume the role will be recast for any new Silk project. Originally being developed as a movie, the latest word on Silk is that it will be a live-action TV show.
Untitled Female Cast Into the Spider-Verse Spin-Off
Status: Unknown
An Into the Spider-Verse spin-off featuring an all-female cast is said to be in the works, with Spider-Gwen likely to make her return. Other characters like Spider-Girl, Spider-Woman, Madame Web, Silk and even Black Cat could be featured. Not much has been heard of this project since it was first revealed in 2018, however.
Black Cat
Status: Unknown
Along with Venom, one of the earliest Spider-Man spinoff movies Sony pursued was Silver & Black, a team-up film featuring mercenary Silver Sable and master thief/occasional Spider-Man love interest Black Cat. While Sony went as far as hiring director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees) and dating the film for a February 2019 release, it was eventually canceled. Last we heard, the studio was reworking Silver & Black into solo movies for the characters, though it’s unclear if there’s any movement on these projects at this point. In 2020, reports indicated that Black Cat and Silver Sable might become TV projects for Sony instead.
Silver Sable
Status: Unknown
Silver Sable got her biggest role in the Spider-Man PS4 game. As with the Black Cat project, this movie’s status is uncertain at this point. In 2020, reports indicated that Black Cat and Silver Sable might become TV projects for Sony instead. Learn more about Silver Sable with our explainer.
Nightwatch
Status: Unknown
Nightwatch is easily the most obscure Marvel character being tapped for the Spider-Man Universe. This vigilante hero wears a durable nanotechnology costume that enhances his strength by stimulating his adrenal glands. Interestingly, Variety reported in March 2018 that director Spike Lee was in talks to direct the film, though Lee has since said he is not attached. This is another project that seems to not be moving forward any time soon.
Jackpot
Status: Unknown
Another fairly recent addition to the Spider-Man universe, Jackpot has often fought alongside Spider-Man in defense of New York City. When she was first introduced, readers were led to believe she was actually Mary Jane Watson in disguise. Instead, it was eventually revealed that Jackpot is an identity used by two different women – genetic researcher Sara Ehret and her admirer, Alana Jobson. Variety reported in August 2018 that a Jackpot movie was in development, and in 2020 Deadline reported Marc Guggenheim was writing the screenplay. No cast or director have been revealed so far.
The Future…
Sony Pictures Entertainment execs clearly have plans for the Marvel characters they have the rights to. “We have the next seven or eight years laid out as to what we’re going to do with that asset, and that will not only be on the film side — it’ll be on the TV side,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Tony Vinciquerra. “Our television group will have its own set of characters from within that universe that we will seek to develop.”
Could that include the Olivia Wilde-directed Spider-Woman movie that was reported on by Variety in 2020? Or the Roberto Orci-scripted Marvel project that was also rumored that year? How many of the projects already reported on fall under Vinciquerra’s plans, or have been dropped by now? One thing is certain: The Spider-Man universe is only going to get bigger on the big and small screens in the coming years.
Which of the Spider-Man spin-offs are you most looking forward to? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Note: This story originally ran in August, 2018. It was updated with the most recent information available on April 25, 2022.
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