This week, we talk about how Sony will pick up the pieces and what Disney is doing to avoid the same fate.
Hopefully, everyone will learn from their mistakes in the latest edition of MarvelBlog News.
Sony Picks Up the Pieces
Source: Marvel/ Sony
In life, sometimes you’re the bug, and sometimes you’re the windshield.
Lately, Sony has been the bug, not the windshield, at least when it comes to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
I’ve seen crypto coin scams work better…and I mean for the buyer, not the scammer.
Source: Sony/ Marvel
Sony is pretty much living inside Murphy’s Law lately, at least if we’re only counting live-action films.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an unqualified success, as are most Spider-Man films, at least since the Jazz Hands days.
Sony’s most recent two live-action Marvel movies are Morbius and Madame Web, which does NOT look good on anybody’s resume.
Source: Sony Pictures
Right now, Sony is assessing the damage from the Madame fiasco, and it appears to be Enron-level bad.
This seems like a cruel time to mention that Sony’s next film, Kraven the Hunter, was widely perceived as the weakest of the three.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. We’ll save that discussion for the September postmortem.
Photo: BossLogic
With Madame Web, the best way to describe Sony’s reaction is stunned silence.
Welcome to the club, folks. That’s how movie-goers felt while watching the film!
I’m making fun of this because it’s impossible to take seriously.
Source: Los Angeles Times
From day one, everyone outside the walls of Sony expected Madame Web to fail. The premise didn’t pass the laugh test.
Just because you own the licensing rights to Marvel characters doesn’t mean you should spend $80 million making their movies.
This time, Sony played with fire and somehow became 79 AD Pompeii. All you can smell at Sony is smoke and sulfur.
How Bad Is the Damage?
Source: Marvel
The Hollywood Reporter did some digging on the current mood at Sony. Let’s just say you’ll find happier people in the emergency room.
The article included this remarkable quote: “On Wednesday night, you could actually watch advance purchase sales declining in real time as buyers were refunding their tickets.”
Source: Marvel Comics
Oof. Imagine a film having terrible tracking and then underperforming said tracking. That’s the case here.
To Sony’s credit, the consecutive debacles have forced everyone to look in the mirror.
This happened not that long ago with Sony. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 wasn’t pathetic like this, but it derailed the franchise.
Right now, Sony executives are questioning whether they even have a franchise, at least one that doesn’t involve Tom Holland or Miles Morales.
The “plan” for Madame Web, such that it was, called for multiple spin-offs from the film. Obviously, all those plans are dead.
Source: Marvel/ Sony Pictures
On Madame Web’s second Sunday in theaters, it earned over $1 million for the final time.
After nearly three full weeks in theaters – remember that it opened on Valentine’s Day – Madame Web has grossed $40.6 million.
Image: Marvel
At the time, I questioned whether Madame Web would earn as much during its North American run as a previous bomb, The Marvels, managed on opening weekend.
That question remains in dispute. Madame Web lost a lot of theaters this weekend, as theater owners wanted to take this time to clean out the cobwebs.
Silk #4. Photo: Marvel Comics
The most generous assessment of Madame Web is that it will need $250 million to turn a profit. Its current total is $XX.X million.
Even worse, this weekend’s results indicate that the “best” box office run is over, as Madame Web slinks out of theaters.
Does Sony At Least Have Insurance?
Photo: Marvel Comics
Here’s the real problem. Sony pot-committed to its Spider-Man Universe years ago. Now, the studio is stuck.
Sony must churn out new Spider-Man content to maintain the license.
Not coincidentally, rumors have emerged that Sony wants a Spider-Man movie to start filming within the next year.
Source: Marvel Studios/ Sony Pictures
Nobody inside or outside Sony’s walls believes that the project is ready, but desperate times call for…stupid overreactions.
Sony’s stated goal was to attract more women into the theater, a frustratingly challenging task.
Comic book movie audiences remain 65 percent male after all this time.
Source: Marvel Studios/ Sony Pictures
Even Madame Web, with its female-centric story and multiple strong female characters, only managed 46 percent female.
The only bright spot is that Venom 3 has nearly completed filming. It remains on track for a November release date.
That’s frankly Sony’s only remaining hope for 2024, much as Disney leaned on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023.
Source: Marvel Studios
Actress Juno Temple recently indicated the end of filming, which is a good sign. Let’s be realistic for a moment, though.
If Venom 3 somehow bombs, which would be surprising, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe could be dead, at least in its current state.
Marvel Miscellany
Source: Marvel/ Fox
Meanwhile, the real MCU (you heard me) has cast Emma Corrin, best known for their work in The Crown, as Cassandra Nova.
The more important aspect is the film in which Corrin will appear.
It’s Deadpool and Wolverine, signaling that Charles Xavier’s dark half will play a key role in the story.
Source: Marve/ Fox
I’m surprised this character remained secret until now. It indicates that Disney and Marvel are doing a better job with keeping secrets.
Similarly, Florence Pugh is doing a press tour at the moment. During a media appearance, she said the following:
Florence Pugh says she’s already started shooting for ‘THUNDERBOLTS’ 👀 pic.twitter.com/cW7ZyMDvhw
— Thunderbolts News (@tbolts_news) February 26, 2024
So, we know that even though Marvel is still polishing the script, it’s already starting to film.
Photo: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/Shut
This approach may tie back to complaints Ray Winstone recently made.
Apparently, Marvel contractually forced the actor to perform reshoots on Black Widow, which…isn’t great.
Marvel hired the showrunner on The Bear, arguably the most lauded program on television today, to improve Thunderbolts.
Photo: The Cinema Spot
Hopefully, this choice will eliminate the need for reshoots. As I keep saying, it’s not coincidental that Loki season didn’t have any.
The films and television series that don’t need reshoots are often the best ones.
Speaking of Marvel keeping secrets…and The Bear, Ebon Moss-Bachrach recently admitted he’s known he was The Thing since August!
Image: FX
You can watch him discuss his secret here:
In possibly ironic news, Disney+ has recently added a new Marvel movie. It’s Morbius. Yay?
In better news, the up
Source: Sony/ Marvel
coming Disney+ animated series, X-Men ’97, has received a TV-14 rating. So, it’ll be more adult than some had feared.
Finally, Marvel stories enjoyed plenty of success at the Annie Awards, which was admittedly expected.
Guardians of the Galaxy won one award, while Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur claimed three.
Source: Marvel/ Disney
Nobody was beating Sony this awards season, though. Across the Spider-Verse claimed a whopping seven awards!
So, don’t pretend to be surprised if Sony’s next new plan involves a Miles Morales live-action story.
Thanks for visiting MarvelBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
Featured image: Marvel
