Here are 10 amazing characters Sony should develop in live-action TV series.
Recently Deadline broke that Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse directors/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are developing “a handful of live-action shows” based around Sony’s Spider-Man characters. The projects are top secret but they did drop some hints.
“We are developing a handful of live-action shows using Sony’s Marvel characters, of which there are like 900 characters,” they told Deadline at the Television Critics Association (TCA) event. “We’re figuring out a way to develop the shows so that each are their own unique experience but are also related.”
It’s noteworthy that this may or may not be connected to the Sony Marvel universe the studio is building around Venom. So it’s either an interconnected universe isolated on TV or it’s a full cinematic universe connected to the shows. But where will the shows air?
Powers, the short-lived 2015 superheroes series debuted on Sony’s Playstation Network. Meanwhile, the comic book-inspired series Preacher debuted on AMC. Lord and Miller recently signed a five-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television that includes network, cable and streaming platforms. Are the shows headed for Netflix?
“We’ve been talking to a lot of potential teammates for trying to do something not like anything else that’s been done on television,” Miller teased as he weaved away from being pinned down on Netflix or anyone else. “It’ll be a little while before it all comes together and is on the air, but I think it is going to be something really special,” he added with a literal wink.
They added:
“Hopefully we’ll know in the next few months where it’ll be and what the schedule will be,” was all Miller would say when asked whether the eventual destination for the multi-pronged projects could be Netflix.
Sony owns the live-action rights to Spider-Man including all the supporting characters and villains. Marvel Studios negotiated a deal to use some of the characters for the MCU. So could Sony use?
Here are ten characters who could star in their own TV show for Sony.
1. Aunt May
One of the breakout characters of Into the SpiderVerse was Aunt May voiced by Lily Tomlin. While May is typically shown as Peter’s doddering helpless Aunt the movie shows an alternate version of her that’s hipper, younger and technically savvy.
Sony was rumored to be developing an Aunt May prequel movie with her younger days as a spy. Sony could dust off those plans and develop a period spy show like Agent Carter. Or they could just explore what kind of person adopts her dead brother son and raises him to be a superhero?
If they want to set it in modern-day they could follow her adventures as Galactus’ herald “Golden Oldie” from Marvel Team-Up #137 (1984).
While Marvel is currently using Aunt May in the MCU, played by Marisa Tomei, Sony may be able to use a young Aunt may versus “Granny” Aunt May.
2. Spider-Gwen (Gwen Stacy)
Another wonderful character from Spiderverse is Gwen Stacy. In the comics, Gwen is just Peter friend and sometimes girlfriend. But in an alternate universe from Edge of Spider-Verse #2, as part of the 2014–15 “Spider-Verse” comic book storyline, she was the one bitten by the radioactive spider and becomes Spider-Woman aka Spider-Gwen.
She’s a cool, feisty superhero and deserves her own show.
3. Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat was created by Marv Wolfman and Dave Cockrum back in 1979 for The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (1979). She’s a cat burglar who has the ability to affect the probability of events to cause “bad luck” for others.
Black Cat was created to be an enemy for Spider-Woman but Wolfman decided to bring her to Spider-Man. She became an eventual love interest for Peter and an anti-hero.
Sony was looking to make a movie starring Black Cat and Silver Sable but the project eventually fell through. Speaking of Sable.
4. Sable (Silver Sablinova)
Who wants a smart, female businesswoman and action hero? Silver Sablinova aka Silver Sable is an expert fighter. She’s also mercenary hunting war criminals along with her team known as the Wild Pack, and owner of Silver Sable International. Silver first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (1985) and is created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.
Sable is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and that’s put her at odds with heroes like Spider-Man. Sable’s smart, strong and driven. Even on her own, she’d make an amazing and action-packed world-traveling TV series.
5. Mary Jane
Like Aunt May, Mary Jane a character who isn’t well known as a standalone character but she should be. Not only is she feisty and tough she also has a big heart. It’s noteworthy that the MCU has an “MJ” but she’s notably not “Mary Jane”. Probably Sony held onto the rights.
Mary Jane was briefly possessed by Red Sonja and wore both the Iron Man and Iron Spider Armor.
Her tragic past of domestic abuse and poverty would be rich for a standalone drama. But she also has a history as a superhero.
7. Sandman (William Baker)
One of Spider-Man’s earliest supervillains is also a superhero. William Baker (a.k.a. Flint Marko) became the villainous Sandman after a day at the beach turned radioactive. He can shapeshift and turn his body into sand. Sandman was created for The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (1963) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
It’s in Marvel Two-in-One #86 that Baker starts to change his tune. Baker refuses to fight the Thing and “Old Blue Eyes” lets him go. This leads to the Sandman becoming a freelance mercenary for Silver Sable and her Wild Pack. Eventually, he becomes a member of the supervillain reformed team named “Outlaws”. Sandman even becomes a reserve Avenger.
If Venom can become an anti-hero then Sandman can do it too.
9. Prowler (Hobie Brown)
What about an awesome handmade black superhero? Hobart “Hobie” Brown first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (1969) as a villain and cat burglar who builds a suit that gives him advanced capabilities. Created by Stan Lee, John Buscema and Jim Mooney he’s an angry young man who used his engineering skills to steal. Later he becomes a hero.
Besides being an awesome superhero in a cool suit he could be one of the few black superheroes on TV. Now you might be thinking “Maurice. Marvel already has Prowler in the MCU. Remember Spider-Man: Homecoming? Sony can’t use him.” You’d be right. Sony can’t use Aaron Davis.
But that’s the “Ultimate” version of the Prowler. Sony could still use the original Hobie Brown version and make him a stand-alone hero who builds an advanced tech suit to stop crime.
10. Puma (Thomas Fireheart)
A little known but still awesome former supervillain is Thomas Fireheart aka Puma. His first appearance is in The Amazing Spider-Man #256 (Sept. 1984) by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz. Puma has the ability to transform into a cat-like man with superhuman speed, strength and ability.
He started out as a mercenary and villain but Peter soon earned his respect. The two would team up on a number of occasions before he joined the Outlaws supervillain-turned-heroes team.
The character of Thomas Firehart was teased in the official viral marketing for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In the Daily Bugle Tumblr page, there’s a mention of Thomas Fireheart. The page said, “An endowment to the New York City public schools system from Fireheart Industries will help pay for the repairs to the damage suffered by Midtown Science High as a result of Dr. Curt Connors’ rampage three months ago. Casino owner and businessman, Thomas Fireheart, presented the donation to the city school’s chancellor in an afternoon ceremony at the school. The gift of two million dollars will cover the entire estimated cost for repairs.” So he could have ended up in future Spider-Man movies.
Quick quiz: How many shows starring Native Americans can you name. Now how many Native American superheroes? A Puma show would break all kinds of new ground.
From Spider-Man friends to former villains there’s a rich pool of characters Sony could explore and make the greatest Spider-Man shows without Spider-Man ever.
[Via Deadline]
Written by Maurice Mitchell. To read other articles by him click here.
Which Spider-Man character do you feel Sony should make a show about? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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