Dane DeHaan stars as Harry Osborn and the Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, due in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2014. Credit: Sony Pictures.
Sony (SNE 2.60%) is hoping that fans want to see Spider-Man's foes at their deadly best, Fool contributor Tim Beyers says in the following video.
Specifically, Tim says the studio appears have crafted The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as a stepping stone film in which rage aimed at the titular character helps drive development of an entirely new franchise: The Sinister Six, a team of Spider-Man's greatest foes.
We've known for a while that Sony wants to make a film starring the villains. A new photo showing a rather terrifying look for Dane DeHaan as the Green Goblin suggests just how serious the studio and filmmaker Marc Webb are taking the effort.
There's risk, of course. Adding too many character to any film increases the odds viewers will leave the theater dazed and confused.
And yet there's logic to Sony's ambitions. Years of developing several characters has allowed Walt Disney's (DIS 1.24%) Marvel Cinematic Universe to blossom into a $5.6 billion cash cow. Tim says The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is shaping up to be Sony's first step toward creating something similar -- not a Spider-Man franchise so much as an entire Spider-Man Cinematic Universe.
Now it's your turn to weigh in. What are you expecting from The Amazing Spider-Man 2? Do you believe Sony can create a Spider-Man universe comparable to what Marvel is building? Please watch the video to get Tim's full take and then leave a comment to let us know where you stand, and whether you would buy, sell, or short Sony stock at current prices.
