Summary
Sony has long been a major player in the superhero movie landscape, owning the film rights to one of Marvel’s most beloved characters:Spider-Man. Of course, Sony has allowed other studios to show the exploits of Peter Parker while Sony has focused on villains and other heroes in theSpider-Manuniverse, that approach faced criticism for struggling to create a cohesive cinematic universe on par with the MCU.
The irony is that Sony already had all the ingredients for its own Marvel kingdom but failed to seize a golden opportunity—launching a live-actionMiles Morales franchise before the MCU. This missed chance not only cost Sony a potentially game-changing franchise but also highlights their inability to fully capitalize on their own properties.
The Spider-Man Dilemma: Side Characters Over Centerpieces
Sony’s approach toexpanding its Spider-Man universehas largely focused on side characters. FromVenomtoMorbius, the studio has tried to build standalone films centered on Spider-Man’s rogues' gallery and supporting characters. While theVenomtrilogy found financial success, it was met with (at best) mixed critical receptions, andMorbiusbecame a meme for all the wrong reasons.
While the Venom trilogy found financial success, it was met with (at best) mixed critical receptions, and Morbius became a meme for all the wrong reasons.
Sony’s reliance on side characters underscores a broader problem: the absence of a central hero to anchor their cinematic universe.Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, was intricately tied to the MCU through a licensing agreement with Marvel Studios, leaving Sony in a precarious position. The studio’s reluctance to fully embrace Miles Morales as their centerpiece stands out as a glaring oversight. Rather than exploring a new Spider-Man narrative with universal appeal, Sony has been preoccupied with filling their slate with characters that lack the same draw or depth.
With recent talk that Sony might be planning to go out andget its own Peter Parker, it’s especially shocking that instead of trying tocompete with the MCU and Tom Holland, the company didn’t just go another direction. Was Sony really that wrapped up in being unimaginiative?
The Animated Success of Miles Morales
The most baffling aspect of Sony’s misstep is the overwhelming success of their animated Miles Morales films.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versewas a criticaland commercial triumph, earning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Its sequel,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versefurther solidified Miles Morales’ status as a fan favorite, showcasing his journey as a young, relatable hero with a unique perspective on the Spider-Man legacy.
These films not only demonstrated the immense potential of Miles Morales but also proved that audiences were ready for a Spider-Man who isn’t Peter Parker. The animated film allowed Sony to experiment with bold visuals and storytelling, but it also highlighted how much untapped potential remained for a live-action adaptation. Miles’s multicultural background, his compelling origin story, and his fresh take on the Spider-Man mantle make him an ideal candidate for a new generation of moviegoers. By not capitalizing on this momentum with a live-action counterpart, Sony missed a chance to solidify its own Marvel kingdom centered on a hero who could rival the MCU’s Spider-Man.
Launching alive-action Miles Morales franchisebefore the MCU would have been a strategic masterstroke. For one, it would have differentiated Sony from Marvel Studios by offering a distinct Spider-Man narrative. Miles Morales’s story is not only different from Peter Parker’s but also resonates with contemporary audiences in ways that could have redefined superhero cinema.
Timing was also on Sony’s side. The MCU introduced its own multiverse storyline inSpider-Man: No Way HomeandDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, paving the way for audiences to accept multiple versions of Spider-Man.By launching a live-action Miles Moralesduring this period, Sony could have capitalized on the growing appetite for multiverse stories while carving out its own unique space in the superhero genre.
Moreover, a live-action Miles Morales would have provided Sony with a flagship character to build their universe around. Unlike side characters such as Venom or Morbius, Miles has the charisma, depth, and narrative potential to sustain a multi-film arc. His presence would have unifiedSony’s Spider-Man universe, providing a central figure who could interact with other characters while driving the overall storyline forward.
A Race To The Finish?
While Sony’s missed opportunity is frustrating, it’s not too late for the studio to course-correct. Rumors of a live-action Miles Morales project continue to circulate, and Sony’s animated success has laid a strong foundation for future endeavors. However, the window of opportunity is narrowing as the MCU continues to expand its own multiverse and diversify its roster of heroes. And talk about its own version of Miles Morale would be the end of Sony’s chance.
For Sony to succeed, they need to beat the MCU to the punch, but more than that, they need to fully commit to making Miles Morales the centerpiece of their Spider-Man universe. This means prioritizing quality storytelling, investing in top-tier talent, and creating a cohesive vision that goes beyond one-off projects.
It certainly appears that Sony ability to build its own Marvel kingdom isn’t a realistic option at this point. The undertaking should have started long before now. And Sony lost the trust of people to do Marvel right. Winning the race to relase a Miles MoralesSpider-Manmovie is only part of the deal. It seems unlikely that even if they did somehow do that, it wouldn’t stick.
