Olivia Wilde to Direct a Marvel Film for Sony Pictures, Possibly SPIDER-WOMAN
Sony Pictures has hired Booksmart director Olivia Wilde to direct and develop a secret Marvel film project that’s brewing at the studio. The project is said to focus on a female character within the Spider-Man universe, and it’s expected that the film she will be directing is Spider-Woman.
There have been several reports in the past regarding Sony developing a Spider-Woman film and bringing on Wilde to direct it is actually a pretty solid choice. Wilde has done some great work as an actress, but she has also proven that she’s got some directing skills as well. I liked what she did with Booksmart.
Wilde will also be writing the script for the film with her writing partner Katie Silberman, and Amy Pascal is producing. The three talents are also working together on a Christmas buddy film that’s set up at Universal Pictures.
I’m a fan of Jessica Drew, a.k.a. Spider-Woman, and this could end up being a really cool film, especially with Wilde at the helm. In the comics, Jessica Drew was genetically enhanced and given super-powers by HYDRA, and she became an assassin as Spider-Woman. She later reformed and became a SHIELD agent and was also once a member of the Avengers and an Agent of SWORD.
If you’re not familiar with the character, here’s a description of what she is capable of:
As a result of a combination of a special serum derived from spider blood and a certain radiation treatment, Jessica possesses a number of superhuman powers. She has superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, agility, endurance and durability. As well as possessing the ability to focus the bioelectric energy that her body generates into "venom blasts" sufficient to stun or kill normal humans and adhere to almost any surface by excreting an unknown adhesive substance from her palms and soles. Jessica rapidly forms an immunity to all poisons and drugs and is totally immune to radiation. Her body also exudes a high concentration of pheromones which elicit pleasure in most human males while eliciting fear in most females, though she often uses a chemical "perfume" that can nullify this effect. She has also demonstrated superhuman senses in her solo series. Jessica has lost and regained her powers more than once, but she has recently emerged with her powers restored greater than ever.
In addition to her powers, Jessica is also a superb hand to hand fighter and has trained in several styles of combat, including boxing, judo, karate, and capoeira, which she learned under the training of the Taskmaster. She has also had training in fencing and the use of many other weapons, including most firearms. Jessica was trained by HYDRA and later on by SHIELD in covert operations, stealth, espionage, and information gathering, and she is also a superb athlete. She speaks several foreign languages, including Korean, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Jessica also received vocational training in undercover detective work and sometimes carried a Walther PPK handgun.
The rights to this character are actually shared between Marvel and Sony. Marvel can use Jessica Drew in the MCU as a secret agent, but they can’t use the Spider-Woman name, any of her spider powers, or the Spider-Woman suit. Then, of course, Sony is free to use Spider-Woman however they want.
What do you all think about Olivia Wilde possibly directing Spider-Woman for Sony, or any female-driven Marvel movie in general?
Wilde is also set to direct the psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, which stars Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, Shia LaBeouf, and Dakota Johnson.
Source: Deadline