Sony Has R-Rated Plans For Its Spider-Man Cinematic Universe

Sony has yet to debut any of its Spider-Man spin-offs, but the franchise is still making progress behind the scenes. Films like Venom and Silver & Black are currently in development, and more movies are expected to be announced as Sony's cinematic plans expand. So, fans shouldn't be too surprised if the studio confirms plans for some R-rated Marvel ventures in the coming months.

UP NEXT: Which Venom Host Will Star In The Venom Movie?

Recently, Variety did a profile on Sony Pictures and its growing ideas for a cinematic universe. The in-depth piece sourced quotes from studio execs like Sanford Panitch, and the site compared how Sony hopes to differentiate its franchise from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Apparently, Sony is hoping to do like 20th Century Fox and separate itself by pushing out some R-rate numbers.

"The studio isn't tasking any single exec or producer with building the web of Spider-Man characters. Instead, it wants each picture to have a distinct style. That means the characters might be featured in R-rated outings or in lower-budgeted offerings," Variety explained. "Sony also isn't interested in producing just conventional comic-book movies."

Of course, there are some fans who will be relieved to hear such news. Movies like Venom lend themselves to darker story lines, so R-ratings will be a boon for audiences looking for a more authentic take on the villain. Other Spider-Man spin-offs may benefit from restricted ratings in the same way Deadpool and Logan did, but an R-rating alone isn't enough to satisfy fans.

When it comes down to it, moviegoers will be sizing the cinematic universe up against its MCU and even DCEU counterparts. Sony Pictures has a chance to dig itself a niche in Hollywood's superhero market if it makes some smart decisions over the next year or so. And, should the studio fails to capitalize on this chance, then fans will be more than happy to let Sony know it needs to go back to the drawing board.

More Venom: The Internet Reacts To The Venom Movie Announcement / The History Of Unmade Venom Movies

Venom is set to release next year as Sony gave the film an expedited premiere. Currently, the feature is set to debut on October 5, 2018 as director Ruben Fleischer oversees the project. The film takes its story from a script penned by Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner. Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach has been drafted to produce the feature.