Spider-Man is headed for a brand-new day in more ways than one. While fans await the upcoming next installment of Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man movies, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Sony CEO Tom Rothman has confirmed that its live-action Spider-Man films are heading for a new day as well.
It’s no secret that Sony’s previous attempt to create a cinematic universe focused on secondary Spider-Man characters fell flat, delivering one meme-able box office bomb after another — Morbius, Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni, Rothman confirmed that “yes,” there are plans to return to the live-action Spider-verse, and “yes”, when the studio does, it will be, as Belloni phrased it, a “fresh reboot.”
Rothman did not expand on Sony’s plans for its Spider-Man film franchise. The biggest question is whether this “fresh reboot” will include a fresh Spider-Man. Tom Holland is returning as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Rothman expressed great confidence in the film. “Never bet against Kevin Feige. He knows what he’s doing,” Rothman said.
How Will Sony’s New Live-Action Spider-Man Movies Relate to the MCU?
Allowing Spider-Man to appear in the MCU has meant that Sony hasn’t made its own standalone or Spider-Man movies, instead focusing on the hero’s villains and obscure allies. Certain post-credits scenes seemed to imply that “Sony’s Universal of Marvel Characters” was part of the wider MCU multiverse, but the tease was never followed up on.
It made sense previously that Sony wouldn’t want to risk competing with itself by releasing multiple Spider-Man movies (or at least multiple live-action Spider-Man movies, as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequels are still going forward). However, it’s a new age. Warner Bros. is plotting multiple Batman movies with two different actors in the leading role, one in James Gunn’s DCU and another continuing the story of The Batman in its own universe. Perhaps Sony could take a similar approach with Spider-Man.
Venom Is Also Heading to a New Era
Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland and Andrew Garfiled in the Spider-Man costume from No Way HomeImage via Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures
Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff series was mostly a bust, but it did have one success. Tom Hardy starred in a trilogy of Venom movies, playing Eddie Brock and his symbiote other self, easily the most popular of Spider-Man’s frenemies.
Ahead of Rothman’s interview, news broke that Sony is working on a new Venom movie, but it’ll be unlike those that came before. The next Venom movie will be animated. However, Hardy is still expected to be involved. Whether that means getting a producing credit or showing up to voice the character in the film is as yet unknown.
The next Spider-Man movie is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will open in theaters on July 31.
