Sony Ends Spider-Man Universe After 'Kraven the Hunter' Flops with $13-15M Opening

Dec 11, 2024, 07:59 PM

Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly ending its Spider-Man Universe (SPUMC) following the release of 'Kraven the Hunter', which has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. The film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular character, is projected to have a soft opening weekend, with estimates suggesting a debut of $13-15 million, potentially lower than the previous film 'Madame Web'. Critics have described 'Kraven the Hunter' as a 'disappointment', 'soulless', and a 'waste' of Taylor-Johnson's talents, with the movie failing to capture the excitement expected from a Marvel origin story. Sony's decision to shift focus away from its Spider-Man spinoffs comes as the studio prioritizes projects like 'Spider-Man 4' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 'Beyond the Spider-Verse', and a live-action 'Spider-Noir' series featuring Nicolas Cage. This marks a significant pivot for Sony, acknowledging the underwhelming performance and reception of its standalone Spider-Man villain films.