Sony’s Spider-Man universe has had a rocky ride in live-action, but when it comes to animation, the studio has found its groove.
While some fans have started to wonder what’s going on behind the scenes with some previously announced projects, we’ve got an encouraging update. The long-discussed Spider-Gwen and Spider-Punk spinoff films are still officially in development.
Even as Marvel Studios continues building out the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony Pictures still controls the film rights to Spider-Man and his extended roster of characters.
The partnership that brought Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, into the MCU was a game changer. At the same time, Sony tried to launch its own live-action universe using characters connected to Spidey.
That plan hasn’t exactly paid off.
The Venom films kicked things off with some financial success, but momentum didn’t hold. Projects like Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter were poorly made films that failed to connect with audiences and struggled at the box office. It’s been a tough stretch for Sony’s live-action Spider-Man Universe.
But animation is a completely different story.
The studio struck gold with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and followed it up with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Those films weren’t just commercial hits, they were cultural moments. Critics loved them. Fans loved them. And suddenly characters like Gwen Stacy and Hobart Brown became breakout favorites.
Gwen Stacy, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, and Spider-Punk, voiced by Daniel Kaluuya, quickly built passionate fanbases. Naturally, talk of solo projects followed.
There’s been some uncertainty lately, especially with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse facing multiple delays. Some fans started to wonder if those spinoffs had quietly slipped off the radar. That’s not the case.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Animation presidents Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville confirmed that both projects are still alive and well, describing them as “active” and in development.
That confirmation matters. Since it came directly from the heads of Sony Pictures Animation, it strongly points to both Spider-Gwen and Spider-Punk getting animated features rather than shifting into live-action.
That’s probably the smartest move Sony could make. The distinct visual style of the Spider-Verse films is a huge part of what makes them special, and keeping that creative identity intact feels like the right call.
There’s also a practical reason this approach works better.
Sony’s live-action films centered on Spider-Man-adjacent characters have struggled because many of those characters were originally written as villains or side figures. Removing them from Peter Parker often leaves them feeling unmoored.
The Spider-Verse franchise avoids that issue entirely by embracing the multiverse. Each Spider-Person exists in their own fully realized world, with their own tone and supporting cast.
That gives Sony a built-in framework for spinoffs that don’t need to revolve around Miles Morales.
Speaking of Miles, voiced by Shameik Moore, he remains the emotional anchor of the main trilogy. But the expanding Spider-Verse isn’t limited to him. The upcoming live-action Spider-Noir series starring Nicolas Cage will serve as the first official spinoff under the Spider-Verse banner. It premieres on MGM+ on May 25th.
That project is going to be an interesting test. If Spider-Noir can carry his own story without leaning on Miles or constant multiverse chaos, it strengthens Sony’s case for giving other Spider-People the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is currently scheduled to hit theaters on June 18, 2027. It’s been a long wait, but if the previous films are any indication, it’ll be worth it.
For now, the big takeaway is simple. Spider-Gwen and Spider-Punk aren’t shelved. They’re still in motion, and if Sony continues to lean into what’s working in animation instead of chasing shaky live-action experiments, we could be looking at a seriously cool next chapter for the Spider-Verse.
Fans of Gwen’s drum-slinging heroics and Hobie’s anarchic, guitar-shredding chaos can breathe easy. Their stories might just be getting started.
