Even though Marvel and Sony are working together on telling Spider-Man adventures set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the latter studio is also pushing forward with spinoffs based on folks from the Web-Slinger's cast. Last week, it was reported that the Venom movie is back on track and will be released in late 2018. Six days later, news has dropped that now there's a spinoff centered around Black Cat and Silver Sable in development.
Thor: Ragnarok screenwriter Chris Yost is writing the screenplay for the Black Cat/Silver Sable. According to THR, Yost is working off of a previous draft put together by Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy. It's important to note that this is the same female-led spinoff project that was being worked on back when Sony was still set on building their own cinematic universe based around the Amazing Spider-Man movies. Matt Tolmach and Amy Pascal are still attached to produce. No plot details were disclosed, but the studio is keen to start production this fall and is currently looking for a director.
Although Spider-Man has clashed with Black Cat and Silver Sable in the comics, these ladies don't fit the same bill as his most dangerous enemies, and they've even been his allies from time to time. Black Cat, a.k.a. Felicia Hardy, has delved deeper into a criminal lifestyle in recent years by graduating from cat burglar to crime boss, but with Spider-Man, she's enjoyed a flirtatious relationship with the arachnid-themed hero, similar to the dynamic Batman and Catwoman have. Felicia was previously played by Felicity Jones in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but any resemblance to the character was in name only. Silver Sable, a.k.a. Silver Sablinova, is a mercenary from the fictional European nation Symkaria who hunts down war criminals either on her own or with her mercenary squad Wild Pack. If this spinoff moves forward, it would be her first cinematic appearance.
As for whether or not the Black Cat/Silver Sable spinoff and Venom are connected to Spider-Man: Homecoming and the rest of the MCU, right now that's unclear. Shortly after today's THR article was published, writer Borys Kit tweeted that neither movies are part of the MCU and that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is not involved with them. However, Variety's write-up of the Black Cat/Silver Sable movie mentioned that it exists in "Marvel's Spider-Man universe," although it will not be a crossover with the Wall-Crawler. Whatever is going on here, it doesn't sound like we should expect to see Tom Holland's Peter Parker show up in either projects.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on how Sony's Spider-Man spinoffs are progressing (at this rate, the studio will probably re-announce Sinister Six soon), and in the meantime, let us know what you think about Black Cat and Silver Sable co-leading a movie together in the comments below.
