Could we finally be reaching a turning point where female directors are getting the chance to helm superhero movies? ThePatty Jenkins-helmedWonder Womanarrives in theaters next week, Marvel Studios just tappedAnna Bodento co-directCaptain Marvel, and now Sony Pictures has set a talented female filmmaker to helm one of its firstSpider-Manspinoff movies. PerVariety,Beyond the LightshelmerGina Prince-Bythewoodhas been set to directSilver Sable and Black Cat, which could very well be the second Spideyverse film afterVenom.
The film will team up the titular Marvel Comics characters—Silver Sable is a mercenary who hunts war criminals, while Black Cat is a burglar also known as Felicia Hardy. Sony previously looked to set up Black Cat withFelicity Jonesplaying Hardy inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, but the franchise was subsequently rebooted with this summer’sSpider-Man: Homecoming, a co-production between Sony and Marvel Studios.
While the Sony/Marvel deal also includes aHomecomingsequel, Sony is also building out its own Marvel Universe that will exist separate from theTom Holland-frontedSpider-Manmovies, but will utilize other characters from the Spider-Man comics since that’s the only major superhero property Sony owns outright. It was recently announced thatTom Hardywill be leading the long-developingVenommoviewithRuben Fleischer(Zombieland) directing, and that film is due for release next year.
In addition to directing, Prince-Bythewood will also rewrite the script forSilver Sable and Black Cat, which was most recently penned byThor: RagnarokscribeChris Yostwith a previous draft written byWestworldco-creatorLisa Joy. Prince-Bythewood is a veteran of the industry having broken out with her first featureLove & Basketballin 2000, and she also directed 2008’sThe Secret Life of Bees. Recently she’s been working in television, spearheading the limited seriesShots Fired, and she also has Marvel experience having recently helmed the pilot for the upcoming Freeform Marvel TV seriesCloak & Dagger.
This is a major get for Prince-Bythewood and is a positive sign that studios are starting to hand the reigns to the most popular genre around to diverse voices.Ava DuVernaywas famously courted for Marvel Studios’Black Pantherbefore turning it down, but with Jenkins, Boden, and now Prince-Bythewood, we’re hopefully seeing a trend.
