Sony Pictures has closed a deal for actress turned filmmaker Olivia Wilde (“Booksmart”) to direct and develop a “secret Marvel film project revolving around a female character in Sony’s own Marvel universe – better known as the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters (S.P.U.M.C.).
Though not confirmed, Deadline who broke the report says they expect that the story will be centered on Spider-Woman. It’s unknown what direction Wilde will take as the superhero character has been the alter ego of several characters in the Spider-Man timeline over the years.
Wilde and her writing partner Katie Silberman will pen the project with Amy Pascal producing. The trio are working on a Christmas buddy film at Universal they hope to do prior to this one. Wilde will direct her next film, the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” this Fall.
This project marks the second film in the S.P.U.M.C. to be based around a female character. The other is the “Madame Webb” film which S.J. Clarkson has been tapped to direct. Sony was developing Black Cat and Silver Sable movies at one point as well with “The Old Guard” helmer Gina Prince-Bythewood attached.
Wilde joins an increasing list of female filmmakers tackling big-budget comic book adaptations in the wake of the massive success of Patty Jenkins helming “Wonder Woman” and its sequel and Anna Boden co-directing “Captain Marvel”. Others include Cathy Yan on “Birds of Prey,” Chloe Zhao on “Eternals,” and Nia DaCosta on the “Captain Marvel” sequel.
