Marvel fans continued to reel with the news on Saturday that Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard was exiting Marvel’s Netflix series based on Daredevil, with a new showrunner taking over. The initial belief was that Goddard’s departure meant trouble for the television program. But maybe this means production is ramping up on Sony’s Sinister Six movie, instead.
That bit of new was buried in the THR report on Goddard’s exit, saying that he would transition from Marvel over to Sony, and start prepping the Sinister Six film, for which he has been hired. The trade says Goddard will stay on as a consultant on Daredevil, suggesting less of a "split" and more of a rearranging. In fact, Marvel moved former Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Steven S. DeKnight as the new showrunner for DD, leaving Drew Goddard room to move on to his Spider-Man duties.
And with good reason. We have written at length about Sony’s need to shake up the stasis surrounding the current Amazing Spider-Man franchise. Though the latest installment of Marc Webb’s series has banked an impressive $640 million worldwide, it is stalling out around $179 million domestically, and reviews (outside of this Web site) have been unkind. When we spoke with Marc Webb on the Amazing Spider-Man 2 press circuit, he made it known that he was unsure if The Amazing Spider-Man 3 would arrive before Drew Goddard’s Sinister Six movie. Goddard’s exit from Daredevil seems to imply that this will be the next Spider-Man movie up to bat for Sony.
Back in April, we reported that Drew Goddard’s Sinister Six was circling the idea of shooting in January. At the time, it was suggested that the Sinister Six team would consist of Doc Ock, the Vulture, the Green Goblin, the Rhino, Kraven the Hunter and Mysterio. Marc Webb later came out and said that he’d like Kraven for his third Spider-Man movie. Maybe that goes on the backburner.
Here’s what I think – and keep in mind, this is all off the cuff (but coming from an informed location). I think the end of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did just enough to give Drew Goddard a launch pad for his Sinister Six. We have Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) assembling a small team. We saw Paul Giamatti’s Rhino in action. I think we’ll see a group forming in Goddard’s movie, and then Kraven will show up in Webb’s third Spider-Man movie to "hunt" the OsCorp creations. That is a storyline being played out in the video game adaptation of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and it makes too much sense not to follow it on screen.
Maybe Drew Goddard’s exit from Daredevil doesn’t suggest problems with Daredevil. Maybe it means a massive greenlight over at Sony. Maybe the June 10, 2016 release date reserved for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 goes to Drew Goddard’s Sinister Six, instead. Maybe Spider-Man’s super group may be coming together sooner rather than later.
