The year 2024 marked a decisive turning point for Sony Pictures’ ambitious Spider-Man Universe, and not in the way the studio had hoped. With three Spider-Man-adjacent spinoff films released in theaters — Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, and Kraven the Hunter — Sony’s attempt to build a Marvel-style cinematic universe came crashing down under the weight of scathing reviews and disappointing box office returns. Now, in a move that underscores just how dramatically fortunes have shifted, the film that many credit with killing the franchise is making its way to Disney Plus.

Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the legendary Marvel Comics villain, has been announced as coming to the Disney streaming platform. The film, which was released in December 2024, managed to gross just $62 million worldwide against a production budget estimated at over $110 million — not accounting for marketing expenses that typically run into tens of millions of dollars. This catastrophic financial performance effectively sealed the fate of what Sony had branded as its own interconnected superhero universe, separate from but adjacent to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Rise and Fall of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was born from the studio’s unique position in the superhero landscape. While Sony sold the broader Marvel Comics rights back to Marvel Entertainment years ago, they retained the film rights to Spider-Man and his associated characters — a catalog of villains and supporting heroes that includes some of Marvel’s most iconic creations. The studio’s ambition was to create an interconnected franchise similar to what Marvel Studios had accomplished with the Avengers, but centered around Spider-Man’s rogues gallery.

The experiment began promisingly enough with 2018’s Venom, starring Tom Hardy as the symbiote-bonded anti-hero. Despite mixed reviews, the film earned over $850 million worldwide, proving there was audience appetite for Spider-Man adjacent content. Venom: Let There Be Carnage followed in 2021, earning $500 million globally. These successes emboldened Sony to accelerate their plans, greenlighting multiple projects including Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter. However, the formula that worked for Venom — Tom Hardy’s charismatic performance combined with horror-comedy elements — failed to translate to other properties.

A Year of Critical and Commercial Disasters

The problems became undeniable in 2024. Madame Web, released in February and starring Dakota Johnson as the clairvoyant Spider-Man ally, was savaged by critics and earned just $100 million worldwide on a $80 million budget. The film’s awkward dialogue became instant social media mockery, and its tenuous connection to Spider-Man frustrated audiences expecting more direct ties to the beloved web-slinger. Venom: The Last Dance performed better commercially, earning over $470 million globally, but its modest success couldn’t offset the damage caused by its fellow releases.

Kraven the Hunter represented Sony’s final attempt to salvage their cinematic universe. The studio invested heavily in the R-rated origin story, hoping that a more mature approach and Taylor-Johnson’s rising star power would attract audiences. Instead, the film opened to just $11 million domestically — one of the worst openings for a major superhero film in recent memory. Critics pointed to a generic plot, underwhelming action sequences, and the fundamental problem that plagued all SSU films: the absence of Spider-Man himself. Without the web-slinger to serve as the connective tissue, these villain-focused films felt purposeless to general audiences.

What the Disney Plus Deal Means for the Future

The streaming rights deal that brings Kraven the Hunter to Disney Plus reflects the complex relationship between Sony and Disney. While the two studios have collaborated on Spider-Man’s appearances in MCU films, their streaming arrangements have shifted over time. Sony films, including their Marvel properties, have moved between Netflix, Starz, and now Disney Plus through various licensing agreements. The decision to platform Kraven on Disney’s service suggests ongoing business relationships even as Sony’s solo Spider-Man universe ventures wind down.

Industry analysts suggest that Sony will likely refocus its Marvel efforts on properties with proven track records. The animated Spider-Verse franchise remains a critical and commercial darling, with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse still in development. Additionally, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4, produced in collaboration with Marvel Studios, is moving forward with Christopher Nolan’s cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema attached to the project. The lesson appears clear: Spider-Man himself remains the draw, while his supporting cast requires the web-slinger’s presence to justify theatrical releases.