Sony taps Olivia Wilde to direct female-centric Marvel film, possibly 'Spider-Woman'

Sony Pictures is developing a new female-centric Marvel movie, and sought-after female director Olivia Wilde will be the one helming the project. If sources are to be believed, all clues point to one likely conclusion — a solo Spider-Woman film.

According to Hollywood news website Deadline, insiders revealed that Wilde reportedly closed a deal to direct and develop a still secret film project about a female character in the Spider-Man universe. Katie Silberman will be writing the script for the film, while Amy Pascal will be producing with Rachel O’Connor as executive producer.

Sony Pictures has yet to comment or issue an official statement about the reports.

After spending the past decade as an A-list actress, Wilde took a career move last year and directed coming-of-age comedy film Booksmart. Her directorial debut in 2019 was positively reviewed by critics while Silberman earned a Writers Guild of America (WGA) nomination for best original screenplay.

Olivia Wilde in Her. (Image: Warner Bros. Pictures)

In the comics, Jessica Drew, a.k.a. Spider-Woman, developed superhuman powers patterned after several different types of spiders when she was born. She was recruited into HYDRA, and trained by the Taskmaster to become a super assassin. After finding out the truth, she mended her ways and became a SHIELD agent. She was also once a member of the Avengers and an Agent of S.W.O.R.D.

Over the years, Spider-Woman has been the alter ego of several characters in the Spider-Man timeline – from Gwen Stacy to Mary Jane Watson and then Jessica Drew in the late 1970s.

Rights for Spider-Woman is shared between Marvel and Sony. Marvel can use Jessica Drew in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a secret agent, but can’t use the Spider-Woman name, any of her spider powers, or the Spider-Woman suit. Meanwhile, Sony is free to use Spider-Woman in whatever way they want.

Apart from Spider-Woman, Sony is also developing Black Cat and Silver Sable movies in an effort to diversify the female characters in its universe of Marvel characters.

(Image from Marvel Comics)