It was only a matter of time before fans got news on the fate of the new "Amazing Spider-Man" franchise after a disappointing sequel this summer.
Columbia Pictures announced today that the next film in the Spidey series is most definitely going to be the "Sinister Six" spin-off, with writer-director Drew Goddard at the helm for the mega-villain team up. It is unclear yet as to just what role Spider-Man will have in the "Sinister Six" film, but the studio is definitely sold on the idea of the villain crossover.
"With 'Sinister Six' in the hands of writer-director Drew Goddard, we feel extremely confident placing the film on a prime date in 2016," said Doug Belgrad, president, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.
"Sinister Six" is set to be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach with a release date of November 11, 2016 in place, according to Coming Soon. This move would now bump "The Amazing Spider-Man 3" to 2018, perhaps as a way to give fans a break from the main series. The four year hiatus from the main series could also give the writers, cast and crew time to recharge and attempt to bring the series back to its previous heights.
In the comics, the Sinister Six is a team of villains comprised of various characters over the years, including Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Mysterio, Kraven, Electro and Sandman. The roster has changed in the books multiple times, so there are plenty of characters for the studio to choose from. One has to wonder if this will somehow tie into the studio's upcoming "Venom" film adaptation as well.
The fate of the "Sinister Six," and the entire Spider-Man series, now rests on the shoulders of Goddard, whose credits include work on "Alias," "Lost" and a producer credit on Netflix's new "Daredevil" series. It may be his first high-profile gig in the superhero film genre, but Goddard impressed audiences a few years back with "The Cabin in the Woods."
"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" wasn't a flop by any means, but the film barely crossed the $700 million mark. Sony was hoping that the sequel would be on par with the rest of the franchise's box office take; however, it turned out to be the least successful installment yet.
