Sony's Spider-Man Universe introduced some classic Marvel characters, but completely wasted some iconic allies and adversaries. Sony's Spider-Man Universe offered its own vision of the world of Spider-Man and his adjacent characters, aiming to build a cinematic universe populated by iconic villains, antiheroes, and supporting characters. Despite some standout moments, SSU has been full of missed opportunities, especially in the way it handles some of its most compelling characters.
Sony's Spider-Man universe has come to an end. Kraven the Hunter was the final installment of the SSU, bringing Spider-Man's titular villain to life. He joins the ranks of Madame Web, Morbius, and Venom, each leading their own eponymous adventures in the franchise. However, several other beloved Spider-Man characters have appeared throughout the franchise, several of which have been completely wasted. Many of them were highly anticipated, but many were wasted on lackluster characterizations or unfulfilled narratives.
10
Morbius Wasted a Great Gothic Villain
Morbius
Morbius, the Living Vampire, has long been one of Marvel Comics' most tragic figures, mixing gothic horror with science fiction. The film adaptation had the potential to explore Michael Morbius' transformation into a vampire, delving into his internal struggle between his monstrous impulses and his desire to do good. Unfortunately, Sony Morbius It turned out to be a disheartening and formulaic affair.
Instead of leaning into the gothic atmosphere and psychological horror that defines the character, the film settled for a generic superhero origin story filled with flat dialogue and unremarkable action sequences. While Jared Leto impersonated Morbius' appearance, the script offered little depth, leaving the audience with a forgettable protagonist. The lack of a convincing antagonist also hurt the story, as Milo seemed more cartoonish than threatening. Ultimately, Morbius failed to capitalize on its titular character's rich history and unique horror elements.
9
The carnage was too goofy
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Cletus Kasady, also known as Carnage, is one of Spider-Man's most terrifying enemies, representing pure chaos and bloodlust. When Venom: Let There Be Carnage announced Woody Harrelson in the role, it seemed like the film would present a dark and chilling portrait of this psychotic villain. However, the film's tonal inconsistencies and propensity for slapstick humor undermined Carnage's menace.
Instead of being a chilling serial killer bonded to an alien symbiote, Harrelson's Carnage was overly campy and lacked the gravitas needed to make him a formidable threat. The film's fast pace didn't help either, as Carnage's backstory and motivations were only briefly addressed. When the climactic battle arrived, The carnage seemed more like an afterthought than a central figure. This wasted one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains and left audiences wanting a darker, more intense portrayal.
8
Calypso was reduced to a plot device
Kraven the Hunter
In the comics, Calypso is a powerful voodoo priestess and one of Kraven the Hunter's most fascinating allies and adversaries. She is a character full of mysticism, danger and complexity. However, its representation in Kraven the Hunter left a lot to be desired. Instead of exploring his dark magic and deep connection to Kraven, the film relegated Calypso to a mere plot deviceexisting solely to advance Kraven's character arc.
This reduction of Calypso to a supporting role robbed her of agency and potential as an independent antagonist. Her dynamic with Kraven, which could have added layers to the story, was underdeveloped. It was very disappointing as the film missed the opportunity to explore the full range of Calypso's powers and her ability to manipulate and control those around her. ONE A more faithful portrayal could have elevated the film's mysticism and emotional depth.
7
The chameleon was introduced too late
Kraven the hunter
One of Spider-Man's oldest enemies, Dmitri Smerdyakov, also known as the Chameleon, is a master of disguise and deception. As such, it was immensely exciting when it was revealed that Chameleon would appear in Kraven the Hunter. However, the execution was extremely underwhelming. The character has little agency until the end of the film and does not assume its iconic comic book form until the final scenes.
By waiting until the end to fully realize the Chameleon's potential, the film missed the chance to integrate his unique abilities into the story. Instead of using his shape-shifting abilities to create tension and intrigue throughout the plot, Chameleon was little more than an afterthought. This decision undermined its impact and raises the question of why Sony didn't do more with one of Spider-Man's most cunning adversaries. A better approach would have made the Chameleon an integral part of the plot, showing his duplicity and psychological warfare.
6
All Three Spider-Women Were Wasted
Lady Teia
Lady Teia introduced the public to three Spider-Women: Julia Carpenter, Anya Corazon and Mattie Franklin. Each of these characters has a rich comic book history and the potential to become major players in SSU. Unfortunately, the film failed to give any of them the attention they deserved. Instead of developing their individual stories and powers, Lady Teia reduced them to secondary characters in a complicated plot.
Their interactions lacked depth and their skills were only briefly portrayed in flashforwardsleaving the public with little reason to care about them. This wasted an opportunity to expand Sony's Spider-Man universe with strong, attractive female heroes who could have stood alongside Spider-Man. Each Spider-Woman's distinct personality and powers should have been explored more deeply, giving SSU a richer, more diverse range of protagonists around which to build future narratives.
5
Rhino was only fully transformed once
Kraven the hunter
In Kraven the HunterAleksei Sytsevich, also known as Rhino, is portrayed as a man who transforms into a monstrous rhino-human hybrid following an experimental procedurerequiring medication to keep his rhino shape under control. While this unique take on the character had potential, the film severely underutilized him. Rhino's fully transformed state only appears during the final battle, leaving little room for the character to make a lasting impression.
This limited screen time wasted the opportunity to explore Rhino's struggles with his transformation and the consequences of his actions. Instead, he was reduced to a brute-force antagonist without any significant development. This lack of nuance completely wasted one of Spidey's most iconic enemiesand the missed chance to portray Rhino as a tragic and formidable foe. A narrative exploring his humanity and internal conflict could have made Rhino one of SSU's standout villains.
4
The Jackal was reduced to an Easter egg
Kraven the hunter
Miles Warren, also known as the Jackal, is one of Spider-Man's most sinister villains, known for his cloning experiments and his obsession with Gwen Stacy. However, at SSU, The Jackal was relegated to little more than an Easter egg. In Kraven the Hunterhe is mentioned by his real name as the scientist responsible for giving Rhino his powers. Later, Chameleon visits him to gain his own shapeshifting powers, but Jackal himself never appears on screen.
This treatment of the character is a huge missed opportunity. The Jackal's experience in genetic manipulation and his morally ambiguous nature could have added depth and complexity to the SSU. Instead, Sony chose to just reference it, leaving many disappointed and wondering if it will ever get the proper on-screen adaptation it deserves. The Jackal could have been a key figure in the SSU's exploration of science and ethics.
3
SSU actually cut a JK Simmons cameo
Morbius
J. Jonah Jameson, the fiery editor of the Daily Bugle, is one of Spider-Man's most iconic supporting characters. Consequently, it was exciting to hear that JK Simmons, who brilliantly played Jameson in Sam Raimi's film, Spider-Man trilogy and the MCU Spider-Man: Far From Homefilmed a cameo for Morbius. However, this cameo was ultimately cut from the final film. The decision to exclude Jameson from Simmons robbed the film of the chance to further connect the SSU to the larger Spider-Man mythos.
His appearance could have added a layer of authenticity and excitement to the Morbiusgrounding the story in the broader Spider-Man universe. Cutting the cameo of such a beloved character was a disconcerting decision, as Simmons is one of the few actors who transcended the franchise and was a constant presence all over. Including Jameson would have been a perfect nod to Spider-Man's enduring legacy and a treat for longtime audiences.
2
Knull was almost invisible
Venom: The Last Dance
Knull, the god of symbiotes, is a cosmic-level villain with immense power and a rich backstory. Your introduction to SSU configure diverse dynamic narrativesparticularly his invasion of Earth. While Venom: Let There Be Carnage introduced him and created the idea of an invasion story, Knull himself was barely visible, reduced to fleeting, shadowy glimpses rather than a fully realized presence.
This minimal inclusion wasted an opportunity to introduce a truly epic villain who could unify SSU's disparate stories. Knull's absence left a void in the narrative and highlighted SSU's tendency to tease exciting possibilities without following through. A more prominent introduction of Knull could have set the stage for an exciting, interconnected symbiote saga. It could also have been the catalyst to form a team of SSU protagonists in a Sinister Six movie.
1
Spider-Man has been teased consistently without ever making a significant appearance
Morbius, Madame Web, Venom and Kraven the Hunter
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of SSU is its Spider-Man's constant teasing without delivering a meaningful appearance. He was provoked by the brief mention of Peter Parker as a baby in Lady Teia and Kraven's fear of spiders. He also appeared as graffiti in Morbius and had a brief cameo in Venom: Let There Be Carnage when Venom displays a brief web-shooter deception.
The franchise has repeatedly presented the possibility of Spider-Man in front of audiences without fully committing. These provocations only serve to highlight the absence of the character who should be at the center of this universe. By avoiding a proper Spider-Man appearance, the S.S.U. undermines its own credibility and leaves audiences wondering when, or if, the wall-crawler will ever take center stage. This perpetual provocation is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
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