VENOM And THE SINISTER SIX To Be Released As SPIDER-MAN Spinoff Films

In a move that’s not a complete surprise but still quite the shocker (hehe), Sony Pictures has announced that they will start building on the Spider-Man Cinematic Universe by releasing two spinoff films based around villains Venom and The Sinister Six. The news was revealed on the Electro Arrives viral site when it was discovered that the computer screen that Harry Osborn is looking at on the site can be clicked on. Writers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinker, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard (who was recently announced to be the showrunner and executive producer for the Daredevil Netflix series) will collaborate with Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb on expanding Spidey’s world for the movies, along with producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

To get a better understanding on who’s working on what, here’s the rundown: for Amazing Spider-Man 3, Kurtzman, Orci and Pinker are writing the screenplay, and Sony Pictures are hoping Webb will return to direct. The film is scheduled for release on June 10, 2016. Kurtzman and Orci will also work on the Venom screenplay with Solomon, and Kurtzman will also direct it. Meanwhile, off by his lonesome, Goddard will work on the Sinister Six screenplay and might also direct it. No word yet on when Venom or Sinister Six will be released.

I’m not completely taken aback by Sony’s announcement considering they previously stated they were working on spinoff films, but I’m still surprised. For one thing, it’s peculiar that the announcement was so easily findable on the site, especially considering there’s still a clock ticking down for something big to happen on New Years. What could be bigger than this announcement? I guess we’ll find out in less than three weeks.

Venom has been long rumored for years, but it looks like Spidey’s dark reflection will finally get to take lead on his own film. The question is, will we be seeing Eddie Brock as Venom, or will we get a more modern take with Flash Thompson as the militarized Venom? As for the Sinister Six, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer all but assured us that we would see six of Spider-Man’s greatest enemies team up to take down the wall-crawler. However, I just assumed that the would happen in the third of fourth movie. My concern is what the conflict of the film would be. Venom is a strong enough character that he can branch off into his own adventures in a separate film, but the reason the Sinister Six gather together in the first place is to eliminate Spider-Man. Will their spinoff film feature a battle against him (in which case why not just have them as part of the main story), or will the be brought together for an entirely different purpose?

My mind is racing with a million different thoughts on this, but I’ll leave you with one last note: shared universes. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fox attempting to join the X-Men and Fantastic Four together, and now this, we finally have cinematic universes for every Marvel property. I didn’t think this was going to be possible with Spider-Man, but I’m glad I was proven wrong, and with all the writers they have attached to these films, the future of Spider-Man on film is intriguing to say the least. Buckle up, people, because this looking to be one hell of a ride!

Here is the full press release for your pleasure:

CULVER CITY, Calif., December 12, 2013 – In a move to forge a new legacy in the story of Peter Parker on screen, Sony Pictures Entertainment, in association with Marvel Entertainment, is developing several new projects in the Spider-Man franchise, with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard to collaborate on overseeing the developing story over several films that will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio.

The five writers, along with the two producers and Marc Webb, have formed a franchise brain trust to expand the universe for the brand and to develop a continuous tone and thread throughout the films. Under the deals, the studio announced that Kurtzman & Orci & Pinkner are writing the screenplay for The Amazing Spider-Man 3, which the studio hopes Webb will return to direct; the film will go into production next fall for release on June 10, 2016. In addition, the team will build on the cinematic foundation laid by Webb, Arad, and Tolmach in the first two movies. They will expand the franchise as Kurtzman & Orci & Solomon will write the screenplay for Venom, which Kurtzman will direct; also, Goddard will write, with an eye to direct, The Sinister Six, focusing on the villains in the franchise. Hannah Minghella and Rachel O’Connor will oversee the development and production of these films for the studio.

In tapping these five writers, the studio and the producers are guiding the future of the franchise with the writer/producers who have each played significant and key roles in developing such highly successful franchises, films, and series as Star Trek, Transformers, “Alias,” “Fringe,” Men in Black, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, World War Z, “Lost,” Cloverfield, The Cabin in the Woods, and Marvel’s upcoming “Daredevil” series.

Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, “The Spider-Man film franchise is one of our studio’s greatest assets. We are thrilled with the creative team we have assembled to delve more deeply into the world that Marc, Avi and Matt have begun to explore in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. We believe that Marc, Alex, and Drew have uniquely exciting visions for how to expand the Spider-Man universe in each of these upcoming films.”

Arad and Tolmach added, “This collaboration was born out of the great experience we and Marc had working with Alex, Bob, and Jeff on The Amazing Spider-Man 2. With more than fifty years’ wealth of stories in the comic books to draw upon for inspiration, the Spider-Man universe is truly boundless; in addition, the Spider-Man comics have the greatest rogues gallery of any series, and to have the chance to explore that on film is truly thrilling. Until now, we have approached each film as a separate, self-contained entity, but with this move, we have the opportunity to grow the franchise by looking to the future as we develop a continuous arc for the story. That is what Alex, Bob, Jeff, Ed, and Drew will do in this unprecedented collaboration, and we’re excited about the directions they are taking the character and the world.”

The most successful franchise in the history of Columbia Pictures, Spider-Man is embraced all over the world. The four Spider-Man films to date have taken in over $3.2 billion worldwide. Spider-Man, Venom, The Sinister Six and other Spider-Man related characters are licensed to Sony by Marvel Entertainment.