Marvel's Nightwatch Movie Rumored From Sony With Spike Lee Possibly Directing

It looks like Sony could be adding yet another Marvel Comics character to its cinematic universe.

A new rumor - courtesy of Meet the Movie Press' Jeff Sneider - suggests that Sony is planning on developing a Nightwatch solo film. Sneider is reportedly "very confident" in the rumor, and went on to say that Edward Ricourt (Now You See Me, Wayward Pines) is penning the script. He then added an unconfirmed bit of info - that fan-favorite director Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Oldboy) is being eyed to direct.

A Nightwatch film would follow the story of Dr. Kevin Trench, who gets sucked into the world of superheroism after being saved by an older version of himself. When donning the Nightwatch costume, he is given enhanced abilities, as well as shapeshifting and invisibility.

If this rumor does end up being true, it would signal a return to the superhero genre for Ricourt, who served as a consulting producer and writer on Marvel's Jessica Jones. Lee, on the other hand, has yet to helm a Marvel or DC property, although he considers his film Malcolm X to be a 'superhero movie'.

The news of a Nightwatch film is sure to surprise some Marvel fans, as the character has only had a small number of comic appearances. He did garner his own short-lived comic series in the 90s, but many attribute its failure to Nightwatch's similarities to Spawn. (Coincidentally, a new live-action Spawn film is also in development.)

Nightwatch was initially rumored to appear in this summer's Spider-Man: Homecoming, signaling that Sony does have an interest in bringing the character to the big screen.

If the Nightwatch solo film does end up becoming a reality, it will join Sony's budding cinematic universe of Spider-Man characters. A Venom solo film - starring Tom Hardy and possibly Riz Ahmed - is set to kick off the shared universe in 2018. Following it will be Silver & Black, a Thelma & Louise-esque female team-up film from Gina Prince-Bythewood.