Sony CEO Confirms ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Ended the Current Spider-Man Spin-Off Universe

Sony is preparing to reset its Spider-Man villain universe after a string of box office failures, according to comments made by Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman.

Speaking on “The Town” podcast, Rothman addressed questions about the future of the studio’s Marvel-related spin-offs. When asked if the larger Spider-Man universe built around side characters was finished, he answered clearly: “No.”

He was then asked if the studio would return to those characters at some point. His response was direct: “yes.” When pressed on whether that would mean a full reboot with new people involved, he repeated, “yes, yes.”

Sony’s main focus remains Spider-Man himself. Tom Holland is still set to lead the franchise, with “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” scheduled for release in July. However, it appears the studio has no plans to continue the current line of spin-offs such as “Madame Web” or “Morbius.”

The decision comes after several disappointing results. While “Venom” was a huge success in 2018, earning $856 million worldwide, the momentum did not last. Later entries in the “Venom” series made solid but smaller returns. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” brought in $506 million, and “Venom: The Last Dance” earned $479 million. With Tom Hardy stepping away from the role, the future of that branch became uncertain.

Outside of “Venom,” the numbers were much weaker. “Morbius,” starring Jared Leto, made $167 million globally. “Madame Web” barely crossed $100 million. “Kraven the Hunter” performed even worse, ending its run with just $62 million. All three films were heavily criticized, and audiences did not show strong support.

In 2024, former Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra spoke to the Los Angeles Times about the poor performance of “Madame Web.” He said, “Madame Web underperformed in the theaters because the press just crucified it.” He added, “It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided that they didn’t want us making these films out of Kraven and Madame Web, and the critics just destroyed them.”

Still, blaming critics does not fully explain the situation. Superhero movies in general are not performing like they once did. Even well-reviewed films are earning less than expected. Projects that fail to connect with audiences face an even tougher market.

Sony is already trying something new. An animated “Venom” film is in development, directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, known for “Final Destination Bloodlines.” That move suggests the studio is looking for a different direction instead of continuing the same formula.

For now, Sony’s villain-focused universe is being rebuilt from the ground up. The company will need a clearer plan if it wants to compete in a crowded superhero market.

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