With Sony's Spider-Man Universe Officially Ending An Era, There's Now One Big Winner

Published Aug 4, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release. He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years. Sign in to your ScreenRant account In the aftermath of bringing Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony Pictures set out to create its own Spider-Man Universe, one focused on the hero's villains. Sony's Spider-Man Universe officially began in 2018 with the release of Venom, Tom Hardy's action movie that became a bona fide blockbuster, grossing $856 million. Venom's success gave Sony confidence to move ahead with this universe at full force. Hardy was able to make an entire Venom trilogy by 2024. Jared Leto headlined a Morbius movie in 2022, which included a cameo from Michael Keaton's Vulture from Spider-Man: Homecoming. Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and others tackled Madame Web in 2024, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson also leading Kraven the Hunter that year. Sony's plans for the SSU changed constantly, with movies about Sinister Six, Nightwatch, Jackpot, El Muerto, Hypno-Hustler, and possibly Spider-Woman entering development but never getting off the ground. The studio was even on the verge of bringing Tom Holland's Spider-Man into the fold when Sony and Marvel Studios' deal to share the web-slinger hit a snag in 2019. Ultimately, the sides agreed on a new deal, creating Spider-Man: No Way Home and Spider-Man: Brand New Day together. Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland'sSpider-Man Trivia 🏠Homecoming2017 ✈️Far From Home2019 🌌No Way Home2021 😈VillainsSinister… 🤖MCUAvengers THWIP! LET'S GO → 01 Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man? AAvengers: Age of Ultron BCaptain America: Civil War CSpider-Man: Homecoming DAvengers: Infinity War ✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments. NEXT → 02 In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he? AThe Vulture (Adrian Toomes) BThe Shocker (Herman Schultz) CThe Scorpion (Mac Gargan) DThe Tinkerer (Phineas Mason) ✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises. ✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene. NEXT → 03 Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI? AFriday BEdith CKaren DJocasta ✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming. NEXT → 04 In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name? AWilliam Ginter Riva BAldrich Killian CJustin Hammer DQuentin Beck ✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe. NEXT → 05 In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world? AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London ✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson. NEXT → 06 With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell? AWong BWanda Maximoff CDoctor Strange DKarl Mordo ✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here. NEXT → 07 Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend? ANed Leeds BFlash Thompson CHarry Osborn DMiles Morales ✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.” NEXT → 08 At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do? AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is ✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all. REVEAL MY SCORE → Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating / 8 Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander? ↻ SWING AGAIN But Sony won't be making any more movies in the SSU. Sony CEO Tom Rothman confirmed in a recent interview that Sony's Spider-Man Universe is dead. Regarding plans for future movies, he said, "There are none in active development." It marks the end of an era for Sony after an up-and-down six-year run, but it also creates a big winner. Why Sony's Spider-Man Universe Is Over: What Went Wrong The SSU ending after six movies isn't too surprising based on the results that Sony saw. For as promising a financial start as Venom was, the universe was not able to build on that momentum and make the franchise one audiences were fully invested in. The quality of these movies was a big reason why. None of the movies received mostly positive reviews from critics, with Venom: Let There Be Carnage's 58% on Rotten Tomatoes the highest of the franchise. The films were consistently riddled with weak characters and unsatisfying stories that made it difficult to turn viewers into fans. The SSU's worst decisions exemplify the head-scratching choices the movies made. Beyond the quality of them, these movies faced an uphill battle by being movies about Spider-Man villains that could not (or at least did not) include Spider-Man. Rather than seeing Venom or Kraven the Hunter fight Spider-Man, they had to battle other Spider-Man villains. This strips the characters of the core antagonistic relationship they have in the comics. Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) Movie (Release Year) Total Box Office Rotten Tomatoes Critics / Audiences Venom (2018) $856 million 31% / 80% Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506.8 million 58% / 83% Morbius (2022) $167.4 million 15% / 71% Madame Web (2024) $100.4 million 10% / 53% Venom: The Last Dance (2024) $478.9 million 40% / 79% Kraven the Hunter (2024) $61.9 million 15% / 72% Averages $361.9 million 28% / 73% That is why so many hoped that any Spider-Man would eventually be in the SSU. Holland's version was the priority for Sony and made the most sense, considering his current popularity. If that was not doable due to the MCU deal, Sony could have put these villains in Andrew Garfield's Amazing Spider-Man universe to find a way to bring him back into a lead role, too. But without Spider-Man or even the promise of him coming, audiences caught on to the fact that these villains would never encounter the web-slinger. The result was audiences largely rejecting the movies at the box office. Each Venom movie was successful for the studio thanks to modest budgets and grosses north of $475 million. But Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter all sank. By the time Kraven rolled around in 2024, it was abundantly clear that audiences did not care for these films. Sony came to see that, too, with Rothman saying in the latest interview that "the audience wasn't satisfied enough" and "they didn't respond" to most of the movies. It's left Sony with no other choice than to kill the franchise, at least for now; Rothman previously teased a Spider-Man Universe reboot was coming. Tom Holland's Spider-Man Should Be The Big Winner From Sony's Universe Ending What Sony loses in terms of a potential superhero cinematic universe should be Tom Holland's gain. His Spider-Man was already the studio's crown jewel at the box office, and that has only proven to be more true with Spider-Man: Brand New Day's record performance. He is expected to make Spider-Man 5 in the future and most likely a sixth standalone film as well. The good news for him is that Sony no longer has conflicting interests regarding how to use Spider-Man villains if the SSU is done. Before, it made sense for Sony to hold onto Spider-Man's most notable villains for themselves to see if they could craft a movie around them rather than gift them to the MCU. For a non-Holland-related example, Ryan Coogler wanted Kraven in a version of Black Panther, but Sony wouldn't approve the appearance for Marvel Studios. Now, Sony could be more willing to share the villains with Marvel. Holland should have all the power as they develop Spider-Man 5 to get Venom, Kraven, Morbius, Black Cat, Carnage, Knull, Rhino, etc. in the movie if he wants. For any character previously in the SSU, a recast would be expected to give the character a clean slate as they battle Holland's Spider-Man. What makes that so exciting for the Spider-Man star is he can stay in the MCU, where he's been most successful, and still get to fight the character's biggest villains. Rather than Sony flip-flopping him between different universes to make the MCU and SSU work, Holland gets the best of both worlds. Which Sony Spider-Man Villain Should Be The Priority For The MCU If Sony does give the MCU complete access to the thousands of Spider-Man Marvel characters it owns, there is no doubt that Venom is who they should focus on redoing first. He is the most popular villain that the SSU tackled and can be a presence that complicates Peter Parker's life for years to come. The MCU has already set up Venom's debut, too. Spider-Man: No Way Home's post-credits scene showed Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock leave a piece of his symbiote behind as he was sent back to his original universe. The black goo now roams freely in the MCU, leaving it ready to find a host. It only makes sense to introduce Eddie then and have him be a villain in Spider-Man 5 or Spider-Man 6. The biggest question for the MCU with Venom is what to do with Hardy. His portrayal often divided fans, and there would be a certain amount of baggage associated with bringing him back. However, he's also incredibly popular and who Holland has wanted to face off against for years. Recasting Venom would be the cleanest move and give the MCU freedom to take him in a different direction, but Hardy could also come back and play Eddie from Earth-616 instead. Should Sony hold off on giving Venom to the MCU (they are developing an animated Venom movie after all), Kraven the Hunter should be next up. He was the villain choice for Spider-Man: No Way Home until Sony blocked it, leading to the sequel taking a multiversal turn. Now that the Spider-Man franchise is grounded again, it would be fun to see a new Kraven hunt down Spidey. Movie(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse TV Show(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Spider-Man Unlimited, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Noir Comic The Amazing Spider-Man First Film Spider-Man First TV Show Spider-Man Genres Superhero, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age