Venom and the Green Goblin should start getting ready for their close-ups because Sony Pictures Entertainment Co-Chairman Amy Pascal hinted that the studio is planning spin-off adventures for supporting character in its “Spider-Man” franchise.
“We are going to access Marvel’s full world of Spider-Man characters, so be on the lookout for new heroes and villains,” Pascal said during a presentation to investors on Thursday.
Sony licenses the web-spinner from Marvel, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company, but it has the rights to make films from the characters who orbit, aide and do battle with Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man. These include popular villains like Rhino and Electro, as well as anti-heroines like Black Cat.
Also read: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’: First Look at Paul Giamatti as Rhino
Given that the four “Spider-Man” films have made north of $3 billion worldwide, it makes sense that Sony would want to find ways to further exploit the comic books, much the way Fox is doing with “X-Men” and the “Wolverine” films.
The studio has already rebooted the wall-crawler one time, swapping out the original franchise team of Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire for new director and star Marc Webb and Andrew Garfield with 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man.”
The next film in the series, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” hits theaters next May, with Jamie Foxx playing Electro and Paul Giamatti taking on the role of Rhino.