End of the SSU: Kraven the Hunter is the Final Movie
The next huge flop is incoming
It's over: Sony's Spider-Man universe is officially a thing of the past. "Kraven the Hunter" is the last movie. After several flops, this marks the end of Sony's attempt to establish its own cinematic universe – at least for the time being.
Originally, the SSU was to be developed as a competitor to the MCU with movies such as "Venom", "Morbius", "Madame Web" and "Kraven the Hunter". While the "Venom" films were relatively successful, "Morbius" and "Madame Web" both proved unsuccessful at the box office and with critics. Rumors have therefore been spreading for months that Sony might give up on the concept. Now, according to The Wrap magazine, it's official.
Anyone who had hoped that "Kraven", starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, might still be able to turn things around is about to be disappointed. According to current estimates, the film will make even less revenue than "Madame Web". The latter was already a huge flop with box office takings of just 100 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Sony is planning to focus more on its collaboration with Disney in the future. The fourth "Spider-Man" film with Tom Holland, which is part of the MCU, is due to be released in 2026. Sony is also working on other projects that should excite fans of "Spider-Man". These include the animated film "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" and a series about "Spider-Man Noir", which is currently being produced by Amazon. In the leading role is Nicolas Cage. However, we will have to miss out on the announced "Agent Venom" project as this has now been canceled.
All SSU Films at a Glance
Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) was a film franchise that originally focused on characters from the Marvel Comics cosmos of Spider-Man. It sets itself apart from other superhero universes by focusing on antiheroes and villains. However, it was not particularly successful.
Venom (2018)
The SSU's first film, "Venom", introduced Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist who becomes the anti-hero Venom through an alien symbiote. The mixture of dark themes and humorous moments earned the film mixed reviews. It was a financial success nonetheless and grossed over 850 million dollars, paving the way for further films.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
In the sequel "Let There Be Carnage", Woody Harrelson's Carnage was introduced as a prominent opponent. The film deepened the relationship between Eddie and Venom and presented intense action. Despite mixed reviews, the film continued the success of the first part.
Morbius (2022)
Jared Leto's portrayal of the vampiric anti-hero Dr. Michael Morbius created high expectations. Unfortunately, "Morbius" failed both at the box office and with critics. Its weak plot and lack of connection to Spider-Man's universe were criticized, even though the character has great potential in the comics.
Madame Web (2024)
"Madame Web" added a mystical dimension to the SSU. Dakota Johnson plays the clairvoyant who influences the fate of Spider-Man characters. The film was a massive flop and was torn apart by fans and critics alike.
Venom 3 (2024)
"Venom: The Last Dance" brought us Tom Hardy back in his iconic role. The grand finale of the "Venom" saga generated worldwide box office takings of almost 500 million dollars. Whether we will also get to see Venom in other Marvel films remains unknown.