As the comic book movie trend just keeps on growing, it seems that directors are looking for sources other than superhero films for inspiration. For instance, this year’s Logan was a blend of a classic western and X-Men action while Spider-Man: Homecoming called back to John Hughes high school movies of the 1980s. Now, Sony’s Spider-related universe is following suit.
According to director Gina Prince-Bythewood, Silver & Black will be inspired by classic buddy flicks like Thelma & Louise and Midnight Run. “I wanted to tell the story of two damaged women who are at war with each other but need each other to survive,” she told Variety.
The site also reports that the movie will delve into what caused Silver Sablinova and Felicia Hardy to go down the paths that they did – assassin and cat burglar, respectively – and explore the parental loss that both women suffered. In the comics, Silver’s mother is murdered by the enemies of her Nazi-hunter father. Felicia, meanwhile, follows in her criminal dad’s footsteps after his death.
Columbia Pictures president, Sanford Panitch, also talked to the site about how superhero films have now developed past the point of being, well, superhero films:
“Superhero movies have now transcended [the point] where they’re no longer superhero movies per se; they are essentially genre movies. It’s not so much that characters have a cape and fly. In Silver & Black, these two women are modern and cool. … They may wear costumes, but [they’re] very real and very grounded.”
Panitch has a strong point here. Like we said above, the addition of capes and cowls are usually just set dressing for modern comic book movies that fit into a wide variety of genres. Think of the difference between this year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the previously mentioned Logan – for instance.
Silver & Black doesn’t have a release date just yet, but it’s possible that it might arrive as early as next year. As always, watch this space for more.