The Perfect Move: Why Sony Should Cast Tom Holland in its Spider-Villain Movies
Sony should avoid involving Tom Holland's Spider-Man in their Spider-Villain movies like Morbius, Venom, and Kraven Their collaboration with Marvel Studios has been successful, so it would be wise for Sony to continue that winning formula
Highlights
Sony's endeavors to establish a live-action cinematic universe centered on Spider-Man's adversaries have been unsatisfactory, as evidenced by the negative reception and dismal financial performance of films like Morbius.
The MCU has witnessed a tremendous triumph in Tom Holland's depiction of Spider-Man, presenting a delightful and innovative interpretation that strongly connects with viewers.
It would be advisable for Sony to maintain a clear distinction between Tom Holland's Spider-Man and their villain-centered universe, dedicating their efforts to establishing an exclusive identity for the SSU.
In the past, Marvel Comics sold the movie rights to their popular characters to big studios in order to keep their business afloat. Although they have managed to buy back most of these rights through mergers and buyouts, Sony still owns the rights to Spider-Man. Marvel and Sony have been engaged in a long legal battle over the rights to Spider-Man's characters and stories. Despite the successful collaboration between Marvel and Sony on Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies in the MCU, Sony's only recent significant success with the character has been through its animated Spider-Verse franchise.
Sony's attempts to utilize Peter Parker and his major supporting characters in the last 15 years have been disappointing. The viewership for Venom surged once it became available on streaming services, while its sequel performed poorly. The impact of Morbius on meme culture was greater than its overall reception, leading Sony to consider a second theatrical release, much to the delight of internet trolls. Despite these unfavorable outcomes, Sony shows no signs of stopping. They continue to expand the Sony Spider-Man Universe, allowing traditional villains and supporting characters to take on leading roles. However, Sony still hasn't cast their own Peter Parker. Considering the underwhelming response to the SSU thus far, it may be unwise for Sony to connect these villains and supporting characters to the MCU through Tom Holland in their new universe.
Sony's Spider-Verse movies have been mixed
Film and television have emerged as the new platform for introducing characters from comics to the general public. When the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) began with Iron Man in 2008, it not only served as Marvel's debut as a film studio but also introduced Tony Stark, a character who wasn't widely known among the public as a prominent comic figure. Sony has made a commitment to establish a cinematic universe centered around Spider-Man's villains and supporting characters, and the list of upcoming projects continues to expand, despite the mixed reception of the initial three live-action films in this universe.
Venom proved to be a surprisingly strong start for the studio. While it did not achieve the same level of success as the MCU in terms of box office performance, it was far from a failure. Initially receiving mixed reviews from critics, it eventually found its audience after being made available on streaming services. However, the same cannot be said for its somewhat forgettable sequel. Following that, Morbius arrived, creating a significant buzz and gaining immense popularity on the internet.
Sony wins when it works with Marvel Studios
The film Morbius was so poorly received that its only remarkable aspect was the relentless mockery it faced on social media platforms. Morbius proved to be a tedious and uninspired catastrophe, featuring a senseless script and an unappealing lead character who lacked charisma. The few comedic moments appeared unintentional and failed to salvage the overall impression. Sony's attempt to replicate the success of Iron Man by introducing Michael Morbius after the underwhelming response to both Venom movies was ill-advised. Instead of recognizing the widespread online ridicule as a sign of disapproval, they mistakenly viewed it as genuine praise. Consequently, they decided to release Morbius in theaters for a second time, only for it to flop once again. It is safe to say that both enthusiasts of the Spider-Man universe and general moviegoers found it impossible to take the finished product seriously.
Sony's foray into live-action content has fallen short thus far. Their endeavor to establish a cinematic universe centered around Spider-Man's adversaries has yet to find its footing. Nevertheless, Sony has truly excelled in one aspect: their collaboration with Marvel to bring to life Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy within the MCU.
Tom Holland's portrayal of Spider-Man has brought a fresh perspective to the character, captivating a new generation of fans. Over the past two decades, Spider-Man has been portrayed by multiple actors in live-action adaptations. Each interpretation has had its own highs and lows, but Holland's depiction strikes a perfect balance between the superhero and high school student aspects of the character. This unique take on Peter Parker allowed Sony and Marvel to deviate from the traditional origin story and craft a rendition of Spider-Man that feels authentic to the universe in which he exists.
Unlike previous iterations that portrayed a flawed hero enduring great loss, Holland's portrayal introduces a young man who is bestowed with incredible powers and genuinely wants to use them for good. Subsequently, the audience witnesses Peter's journey as he experiences these aforementioned losses. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man trilogy is a delightful, youthful, and grounded take on the character. It not only stays true to the themes established in earlier trilogies but also forges its own distinct identity. Considering these factors, it becomes apparent that Marvel's involvement is the missing ingredient for Sony to create a successful Spider-Man Shared Universe film.
Sony needs to keep Tom Holland's Spidey away from Morbius, Venom, and Kraven
With Sony's SSU gaining momentum, it's only a matter of time before the titular hero makes an appearance. Despite some disappointing projects, the SSU is finally moving forward with their next offering: Kraven the Hunter. While initial glimpses of Kraven are promising, there is still a possibility that the film could fall flat like Morbius. However, all of the upcoming SSU projects have the potential to bring Spider-Man into the mix, and it would be a mistake for Sony to pull Tom Holland away from the MCU to do so.
If Kraven proves to be a success and revitalizes the SSU, Sony could compete with recent MCU endeavors in this new cinematic universe. Although the SSU and MCU have showcased connections in multiple projects, it is crucial for Sony to secure a Spider-Man exclusively for their universe in order to establish its distinctiveness. Let Tom Holland continue his journey in the MCU – he will thrive there.
