Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has already started with Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Jared Leto's Morbius. While a part of the Marvel Multiverse, the SSU has been established as a separate entity from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is now a further part of the Marvel Multiverse thanks to a brief cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Despite the negative reviews, Sony is going full-steam ahead with their franchise, developing a third Venom film and solo films for Kraven the Hunter and Madame Web. How successful the films will become remains to be seen.
Update August 28, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great Spider-Man characters that should get their own solo films.
Since Spider-Man is Marvel Comics' most popular superhero, the comic publisher dedicated a lot of titles and time to developing his world and supporting characters. Despite being a singular hero, Sony Pictures has a rich history to draw from to develop movies. Supporting characters, villains, and other Spider variants, there are plenty of characters that could lead their own live-action films and flesh out the wider Spider-Man Universe, both in Sony's main universe and in the wider multiverse teased in the Spider-Verse films. These are twelve Spider-Man characters that should get their own live-action solo film.
12 Silk
In the Marvel Comics, Silk (a.k.a. Cindy Moon) was bitten by the same spider that bit Peter Parker. Cindy initially struggled to control her powers and was kept in a bunker for a long time to avoid the evil Morlun and his Inheritors. After coming out of isolation, Silk needed time to adapt to social settings and overcome her anxiety. Cindy Moon was a Korean-American superhero and joined a team of Asian and Asian-American heroes called the Agents of Atlas. Among the members was Shang-Chi, and Jimmy Woo (who appeared in Marvel Studios' WandaVision) was the head of the Atlas Foundation.
According to a report from Variety, a live-action series based on Silk has entered development. However, Silk is a great character who also deserves a solo adventure on the big screen. Since the Sony universe does not seem to have a traditional Spider-Man, Silk could be an interesting character to fill the role. She could be the webbed superhero of this universe, giving her the spotlight instead of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man.
11 Agent Venom
The Venom movies kicked off Sony's universe of Marvel characters, and what better way to continue that than with Agent Venom? Most well-known as Peter Parker's high school bully, Flash Thompson would eventually enlist in the army, where he'd lose both of his legs. In an attempt to get control of his life again, Flash bonds with the Venom symbiote to become Agent Venom. He uses drugs to control the symbiote and carries out missions for the government.
The fan-favorite take on the character is a radical change from the standard status quo of Venom and brings with it a lot of interesting story ideas. He would make for a great addition to introduce in a Venom movie and then to get his own spinoff.
10 Spider-Man 2099
Miguel O'Hara was a geneticist of Irish and Mexican descent, becoming Spider-Man in the year 2099. His genetic code was altered to represent half of a spider's DNA. He lacked the traditional "spider-sense," but his hearing and vision were far superior to that of any other Spider-Man. Fans got to see Oscar Isaac's Spider-Man 2099 in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and in a much more prominent role in the sequel Across the Spider-Verse. Sony has recognized the potential of the character in animation, but they should also consider a live-action film for the SSU.
Most superhero films take place near the present day, so a Spider-Man 2099 film has major potential to stand out from films in the genre. Sony could take full advantage of the era the film is set in and incorporate futuristic influences such as those of Blade Runner. When Sony was looking to plan out their interconnected universe of Spider-Man films after The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 2099 was one of the characters who was considered for a solo film. With how well the character has done in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, an animated spin-off or live-action film would be great for Sony Pictures.
9 Spider-Man Noir
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A live-action film based on Spider-Man Noirhas not publicly been on Sony's radar, but they are developing a television series. If it was done as a film, the story would have to be told outside the SSU as it would require a noir-themed universe. Films such as Joker and Logan (which had a black-and-white noir version) broke new ground in the comic book movie genre and enjoyed incredible success. Spider-Man Noir could follow in those films' footsteps and give fans something unexpected and something they have never seen before.
In the comics, Spider-Man sought justice for the deaths of Ben Parker and Ben Urich, who died at the hands of Norman Osborn. The comics were set against the era of the Great Depression and even featured Spider-Man fighting Nazis. A great out of continuity adventure would be a great way to keep the brand alive without feeling like a repeat of what has been done before.
8 Black Cat
Felicia Hardy, better known as the Black Cat, is a character that Sony has been trying to put in movies for a while. Going back and forth between hero and villain, Black Cat is a burglar and maybe the best thief in the Marvel universe. From rumors of her appearing in Sam Raimi's canceled Spider-Man 4 to Felicity Jones playing her in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Black Cat has been on their radar for a long time.
At one point back in 2018, Felicia was set to get her own film. While those plans were scrapped years ago, the character still deserves her moment on the big screen. Black Cat could be a low-budget crime drama that would help diversify both the Spider-Man film franchise in terms of genre, and the gender of its lead characters.
7 Silver Sable
Silver Sable, like Black Cat, is a character Sony has been trying to make a film of for years. Originally, they wanted to make a team-up film between Black Cat and Silver Sable. Also known as Silvija Sablinova, she is from the fictional country of Silvija Sablinova, the owner of Sable International, and a mercenary who spends her time hunting down criminals. One of the most dangerous fighters Spider-Man knows, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Silver Sable would make for a great addition to the universe in a universe mostly comprised of villains. Someone needs to hunt those villains down, and who better than a dangerous mercenary deserving of her own spinoff? Silver Sable could be one of the unofficial heroes and one that could recruit other anit-heroes to her team, like Black Cat and even Venom. The character could also provide the chance to give the franchise a more global feel, going to different parts of the world.
6 Spider-Punk
After Across the Spider-Verse, Hobie Brown has never been more popular. In a universe obsessed with music and taken over by a Fascist government regime run by President Norman "Ozzy" Osborn. Hobie is bitten by a radioactive spider from illegal waste dumping, turning him into that universe's Spider-Man. Not only is Hobie a fascinating and beloved character, but his universe is very unique. Setting this story in another universe would add some variety to the slate and show something that comic book movies haven't touched on much.
Seeing a Spider-Man fight a Fascist regime and be portrayed as an anarchist anti-hero is a fresh spin on the live-action character. Most superhero movies tend to have a similar style, so a punk rock-inspired blockbuster would be a breath of fresh for the genre. Spider-Punk is a breakout character who could easily lead his own film.
5 Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
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This is a tricky one as Spider-Woman, or one of the many versions of the characters, will play a role in Madame Web. Sydney Swneey is already confirmed to play Jennifer Carpenter, the second woman to become Spider-Woman. Yet the first and the most iconic is Jessica Drew, and it is unclear if Sony has any plans for her in live-action.
The origin story of Jessica Drew has differed between different comics. In one continuity, she received her powers after being injected with a spider serum and placed in a genetic accelerator. In another universe, Jessica received her powers while in the womb when her mother was hit by a laser-carrying spider DNA. Jessica went on to become a superhero, spy, and private detective. A version of her appeared in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and is one of the stand-out characters from the film. Introducing Spider-Woman into the SSU would firmly establish a central hero in a world filled with villains and anti-heroes.
4 Prowler
The Prowler was a villain who used his advanced technology to become one of the greatest thieves of all time. Donald Glover made a brief appearance as Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming, but the award-winning actor could easily carry an entire film. Glover's version of Aaron Davis was part of the MCU, but Sony has already shown no hesitation in moving characters between cinematic universes.
Glover's return in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse certainly inspired interest in the idea for Glover to return as the Prowler and one that could show a new side to the characters. Audiences have seen The Prowler mainly through Miles Morales's eyes, so how about the story from Aaron Davis' point of view and why he became the villain?
3 Spider-Girl
Spider-Girl is the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. Audiences have already seen a baby version of this character in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Yet a live-action film version of the character might provide some interesting possibilities. The most obvious is that featuring the character, Sony could make her the daughter of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker and Kirsten Dunst Mary Jane Watson and make her feature film a legacy sequel to the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy and the unofficial Spider-Man 4.
It would be great to see Peter Parker take on a mentor role, one with his own daughter, which would likely be a very different dynamic than what audiences saw with Peter Parker as a mentor to either Tom Holland's Spider-Man or Miles Morales in the Spider-Verse films. She could start out in the universe of the Sam Raimi films and then jump over into the Sony Universe of films, or it could be established that retroactively, the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films were always in the Sony Universe. The only continuity hiccup is Venom, but since Topher Grace's character never refers to himself as Venom, it could be established that was just another symbiote. The universe then has a long-established Spider-Man character and now a new legacy character to take on the mantle and become the hero of the franchise.
2 Spider-Gwen
Also referred to as Ghost-Spider and Spider-Woman, there was a universe where Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker. The "Spider-Gwen" character made her film debut in 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and became an ally, friend, and love interest of Miles Morales. Because that version of Gwen was voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, who also currently plays Kate Bishop in the MCU, a new actress would likely be required to bring the Ghost-Spider into the world of live-action.
Fans previously expressed interest in Emma Stone potentially returning to the Spider-Man franchise. However, it might be a good idea for Sony to cast a new actress and tell the story of a new Gwen Stacy from the very beginning. What is interesting is that Sony could establish her as Spider-Gwen in her own reality that lands in the Sony Spider-Man Universe or that Gwen Stacey is the actual hero of this universe.
1 Miles Morales
This one has always been a no-brainer. The world has already seen three live-action Peter Parkers, and fans more than ever want to see Miles Morales in a live-action Spider-Man film. Some have mistakenly viewed Miles as a replacement for Peter when that has never been the case. Miles will never be, and never should be, Peter. He is his own Spider-Man, with his own style, powers, and identity.
Insomniac's Spider-Man video games further proved that Peter and Miles can both be Spider-Man at the same time. The SSU has flexibility in introducing Miles as a seasoned superhero, at an intermediate level of crime-fighting, or as a rookie. While Miles Morales is the lead in the animated film series, it would be foolish of Sony not to try and cash in on the popularity of the hero and put him in live-action. Miles Morales could become the new Spider-Man in a world filled with villains and show how he handles dealing with threats like Venom, Morbius, Kraven the Hunter, and more without a central Spider-Man.
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