Could Sony Pictures have a heroine up on the silver screen before Marvel Studios does? According to Deadline, Sony will be releasing a film in 2017 that will star one of the women in the Spider-Man supporting cast.
After this year's "Amazing Spider-Man 2," Sony announced it would be releasing a "Sinister Six" film in 2016 and "Amazing Spider-Man 3" in 2018. Rumors also persist of a "Venom" film, focusing on Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote characters from 2007's "Spider-Man 3."
A movie starring Spider-Woman seems like the most likely choice to fill that 2017 slot, though Deadline also name-checks Black Cat, Firestarter, Stunner and Silver Sable.
Deadline's report also claims that the Venom film is still happening, thought it is called "Venom Carnage." That title alludes to another character named Carnage, a serial killer that uses the superpowers granted by an alien symbiote similar to Venom's for terrible effect. That film will be directed by screenwriter Alex Kurtzman and may also be released in 2017, according to Deadline.
Superheroines have been the talk lately, since the announcement that Thor would now be a woman in the Marvel comics. This led to speculation that Marvel could make a film with a leading lady, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has said that any such film would have to wait, not only until they get the right character and story, but because they have a full slate of films already planned for the next few years.
Though Marvel's films have had several women with important roles, they have been part of ensembles and not the focus of the story. After several appearances by her in different films, a Black Widow film is in development, but there hasn't been an actual production announced. That possibility still exists, after "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is released in 2015.
Director Zack Snyder revealed a photo of Wonder Woman from "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," played by Gal Gadot, at San Diego Comic Con last month. It is currently unknown how big of a role the character will play in the film, or if she will appear only as a cameo that is building toward a future "Justice League" film.
"Sinister Six" will be written and directed by Drew Goddard, known for "The Cabin in the Woods."
According to Deadline's report, Lisa Joy Nolan (writer of upcoming HBO's "West World" series) will write the script for this new "Amazing Spider-Man" spin-off, and it will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach (who have produced past "Spider-Man" films).
