I’m Still Annoyed By The ‘Snake-Bitten’ Spider-Man Comments, Because I Think They Totally Miss The Problems Facing The Marvel Franchise

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As a lifelong comic book fan and devoted Spider-Man enthusiast, I must say that Sony’s recent run of spinoff movies has left me feeling like a hungry spider waiting for its web to catch a fly – only to find an empty string every time. Growing up, the idea of seeing these villains on the big screen was a dream come true, but the endless teases and bait-and-switch tactics have left me feeling more frustrated than a wall-crawler stuck in a web of lies.

I remember the excitement when Venom hit theaters in 2018, thinking that finally, we’d get to see one of Spidey’s greatest foes on the big screen. But instead of the symbiote bonding with Peter Parker and causing all sorts of chaos, we got a standalone origin story that was fun but ultimately forgettable. And then came Morbius, a movie that I was excited for but left me feeling like I’d just watched a three-hour episode of “Dracula Untold.”

But it wasn’t just the lack of Spider-Man that bothered me – it was the constant teases of what could have been. Venom even went so far as to show Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock watching footage of Peter Parker on TV, only to do absolutely nothing with that setup. It felt like Sony was dangling a juicy fly in front of my face, only to yank it away just when I thought I could finally take a bite.

And then there were the rumors of other Spider-Man spinoffs, like El Muerto and the Hypno-Hustler, that seemed to come out of nowhere and left fans scratching their heads. Who are these characters? Why should we care about them? It felt like Sony was throwing darts at a board full of Spidey villains, hoping something would stick.

But I have to give credit where it’s due – Sony did get one thing right with Madame Web. That movie was so forgettable that even they seemed to realize it wasn’t worth anyone’s time.

In the end, I fear that true Spider-Man fans will choose to stay home rather than waste their time on these spinoffs. And as a fan who grew up dreaming of seeing these villains on the big screen, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed – like a spider left with an empty web, waiting for its next meal.

On the bright side, maybe Sony will finally figure out what they’re doing and give us the Spidey spinoffs we deserve. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to keep spinning my own web of theories and dreams – and hoping that one day, it’ll catch a fly. Or at least a decent movie.

Oh, and if you ever find yourself stuck in a web of lies like me, remember: patience is a virtue, but it doesn’t pay the bills. So maybe it’s time for Sony to start spinning some webs of their own and give us what we want!

2024 could be seen as an odd year for superhero movies, with both Marvel Studios and DC Films largely focusing on rejuvenation rather than releasing new films. This reboot seems to kick off in 2025, with James Gunn’s Superman and Kevin Feige’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The scarcity of major comic book productions may have contributed to the success of summer releases like Deadpool and Wolverine, which outperformed recent Marvel films. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures kept active in 2024, expanding its unique universe of Spider-Man spin-off movies. However, the final installment of this series might have ended the experiment more quietly, rather than with a grand finale.

During an interview with the L.A. Times on January 2, outgoing Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra discussed his time in office and gave insights into the performances and receptions of movies like Madame Web, Venom, and Kraven the Hunter. However, as I reflected on Vinciquerra’s comments – a man I’ve long considered an astute studio executive with numerous successful projects to his name – I found myself troubled because it appears to overlook the reasons for the failed Sony Spider-Man universe and jeopardizes the future of a franchise that, in my opinion, still holds immense potential if managed properly.

Here’s what was said about the Spider-Man spinoff movies.

During Tony Vinciquerra’s term, the last film released – Kraven the Hunter – is destined to be known as one of his least successful projects, which he described as “likely the poorest debut” of his nearly eight-year tenure. Kraven, featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the title role (Whether a villain or hero remains uncertain), earned just $11 million on its opening day, December 13th. It struggled to compete against highly-acclaimed films like Wicked, Mufasa, and Nosferatu. Shortly after, it dropped out of the Top 10 box office list.

Responding to queries concerning the relatively lackluster showing of “Kraven the Hunter,” particularly compared to prior Sony Spider-Man spinoffs, Vinciquerra appeared to grow protective in his response, asserting his viewpoint.

It seems that both Kraven and Madame Web didn’t perform as well as expected in theaters, despite not being poor movies in general. The media, however, was particularly harsh towards them, which may have influenced their box office performance. Interestingly, they fared better on Netflix. Despite the negative reception from critics, these films were not terrible; they simply received unfavorable reviews in the press. This happened with Venom as well, but the audience’s positive response turned Venom into a huge success. These movies weren’t bad films; they just faced harsh criticism from the media for reasons unknown.

According to Tony Vinciquerra’s statements to the L.A. Times, most of what he said appears to be accurate. He was right in his assumption that the poor performance of Madame Web could be attributed to negative reviews, as the film scored a mere 11% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it’s important to note that unfavorable reviews primarily impact a movie’s opening weekend. If a film is enjoyable, positive word-of-mouth can spark interest among audiences. As Vinciquerra suggested, this was the case with the Venom films. Therefore, I find his conclusion that Madame Web, Morbius, and Kraven underperformed solely due to being “destroyed” by critics somewhat questionable.

If Vinciquerra acknowledged some responsibility for the creative missteps in the Spider-Man films, I’d find it convincing that someone at Sony comprehended the main reason behind their underperformance. Nevertheless, as his tenure ended, he delved into his thoughts about the future direction of the Sony Spider-Man spinoffs in the interview, which clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding of the primary criticism leveled against these narratives by fans.

Here’s Vinciquerra:

I believe it’s time for a fresh perspective on the Spider-Man series. It seems that each new installment faces a similar fate, as critics and audiences alike seem to find issues with it, regardless of its quality.

As a devoted Spider-Man fan who has grown up watching various iterations of the web-slinger, I must say that Sony’s decision to create a live-action spinoff seems like a long-overdue move. While some may view the animated Spider-Verse series as cursed or snake-bitten, I believe it has only enriched the Spider-Man universe and paved the way for new and exciting stories.

I must admit that I was initially skeptical about the Spider-Man: Noir series starring Nicholas Cage, but after giving it a chance, I have come to appreciate its unique take on the character. The noir genre offers a fresh perspective and allows for a more mature and complex portrayal of Spider-Man that appeals to fans like me who have been following the character for decades.

In conclusion, while some may be quick to write off the Spider-Man: Noir series as a misfire, I urge Sony to continue exploring new and innovative ways to tell Spider-Man stories. The passion of die-hard fans like myself is proof that there is still plenty of life left in this beloved franchise.

It’s quite clear to me, at least, that these spinoffs aren’t doing well for a couple of reasons. One is quite apparent, while the other might not be so obvious, but it’s still significant. So, let’s take a closer look.

It seems clear to me that these spinoffs are struggling for a few different reasons – some more obvious than others, but all important. Let’s dive in deeper.

There’s no Spider-Man in these movies.

Of course, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Fans of Spider-Man desire to see their favorite superhero on the big screen. It’s not just about Peter Parker anymore; the Spider-Verse films have demonstrated that audiences can connect with characters like Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Jessica Drew, Hobie Brown, or Miguel O’Hara as well. If a Spider-Man is cleverly included in the Kraven the Hunter movie, I promise you, there will be more viewers who are fans of Spider-Man.

Interestingly, instead of incorporating Spider-Man, Sony produced a total of three Venom films without him, which leaves me puzzled about their reasoning.

The issue at hand is that Sony repeatedly hinted at Tom Holland’s Spider-Man potentially being involved, but failed to follow through on this promise, causing dissatisfaction among dedicated fans. Let’s review a few recent instances. In Jared Leto’s Morbius movie, for an unexplained reason, Michael Keaton’s character from the MCU (Adrian Toomes) was transported over and had a meeting with Morbius. This transition was connected to Doctor Strange’s magic in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Toomes (also known as The Vulture) told Morbius that he held Spider-Man responsible for the change.

Here, watch:

The sight was quite thrilling, as The Vulture gracefully descended from above and engaged with Morbius, the Living Vampire. However, what exactly transpired between them?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

When directly questioned by Josh Horowitz about the events unfolding in the particular scene, Michael Keaton admitted he was completely clueless. He further explained: “I hadn’t a clue.

And even they couldn’t quite explain it.

Double yikes.

Afterward, there were hints about Venom’s teases. Fans of comics understand that Venom typically doesn’t materialize unless an alien symbiote bonds with Peter Parker, then breaks away. The Venom trilogy starring Tom Hardy, which is acceptable in disregarding the original storyline, occasionally suggested a potential crossover between Spider-Man and Venom. This hint was emphasized by the symbiote recognizing Holland’s hero on a television screen. Recall the intriguing moment from Venom: Let There Be Carnage?

Do you know what that scene led to? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

As Sony continued to maintain this deception, fan irritation grew increasingly intense. If Sony was genuinely aiming for these Spider-Man villain spinoffs to thrive independently, then teasing Spider-Man action without following through was a mistake. My personal annoyance with the Sony films wasn’t primarily due to their lack of quality. In fact, I believe that Morbius and the Venom movies are decent – if somewhat outdated – comic book adaptations. However, Madame Web appeared to be a confusing misstep that didn’t warrant its own existence. It seemed as though nobody involved in the production of Madame Web, including lead actress Dakota Johnson, fully grasped why they were making the film.

It appears Sony has shown no inclination towards featuring Spider-Man, whether it’s Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, or a live-action Miles Morales, in their upcoming spinoff films. However, they did include a scene of Jared Leto passing by a Spider-Man mural in the trailer for Morbius. Unfortunately, this particular shot won’t be present in the final movie.

I found the constant change of characters in these films frustrating, and I believe many dedicated Spider-Man fans share this sentiment, having eagerly anticipated seeing Spider-Man battle against Venom, Kraven the Hunter, Rhino, Chameleon, and other newly introduced characters. Characters like Madame Web were not appealing, nor was the introduction of odd names for other films, such as El Muerto or Hypno-Hustler, which are unfamiliar to both Sony executives and the fandom. It’s puzzling to me why these obscure characters are being considered.

Tony Vinciquerra’s assessment is accurate. Sony should fundamentally reevaluate its strategy for the Spider-Man film series. This isn’t because the franchise is cursed or unlucky, as some might say. Instead, it’s due to the unusual creative choices made behind the scenes since 2018’s Venom, and Sony’s struggle to harmoniously incorporate Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe while maintaining control over Spider-Man characters.

Until they figure that out, I fear that true Spider-Man fans will choose to stay home.

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2025-01-01 20:38