Though it may be unintentional, the release of Kraven The Hunter could potentially serve as the catalyst for Sony Pictures’ next big supervillain lineup. Once this Marvel “anti-hero” film arrives on the big screen, does this mean that a Sinister Six project could come to fruition and give our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man a bigger threat than just the usual “villain of the week?”
For those unfamiliar with this Marvel team, they consist of six supervillains from the Spider-Man universe, including Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Vulture, and Kraven the Hunter. In the comics, they teamed up in an attempt to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. They also want to take over the world, as revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man issues #334β339. It’s your typical supervillain stuff. However, considering the blow to their reputation and ego inflicted by a web-slinging teenager/college student, it would make sense for a major supervillain team-up to occur.
Once fans realized that this possibility could become a reality, manifestations of a Sinister Six movie began. Even if it doesn’t precisely mirror the original story, members can be swapped or added, just as in the comics. At one point, the Sinister Six was even referred to as the Sinister Twelve. With the multitude of Spider-Man films released over the years, fans believe it’s plausible to give this supervillain group the comeback they deserve. One also believes that this group could be the big bad in the next Marvel Studios Spider-Man movie.
Here’s the thing, while it’s cool to have the Sinister Six fight Spider-Man, we already witnessed a similar clash of hero vs villains in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In case you’ve forgotten, three Spider-Men faced a plethora of villains, such as Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Electro, and The Sandman. Sure, they were off by two more members, but it’s close enough.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also had a supervillain team-up with Kingpin, Doctor Octopus, and The Prowler. Yes, they were also off by a few members, but it’s still for all intents and purposes, a villainous supergroup. The only difference was they were all thwarted by multiple Spider-people, rather than just a singular Spider-Man.
Don’t get me wrong, I also think a Sinister Six movie would be cool. With the addition of Kraven the Hunter to the mix, the multiverse slowly opening up, and no one remembering Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, this Marvel Studios Spider-Man is placed in a very vulnerable position. Better yet, this could be the epic villain clash event for a live-action Miles Morales movie. But these villains need a better reason to return, other than time travel and multiverse hopping. Because if that were the case, then it’d just be a carbon copy of the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Fortunately, I do see potential in this. Using all the other villains that exist in Sony Pictures’ IP like Venom, Morbius, and now, Kraven the Hunter, there could be hope for a new league of villains coming to the scene. Maybe add The Prowler into the mix and they’re just off by two members. It doesn’t have to be the exact lineup seen in the comics, but there is a story that could be told about a group of anti-heroes trying to prove to Spider-Man that they too can save the world on their own terms, then clash due to mixed ideologies. If that’s the direction that Sony Pictures is willing to go towards for this supervillain group, then that’s something worth keeping an eye on.