The news is out: Silk: Spider Society, a live-action series that was supposed to kick off a series of Spider-Man spinoffs on Prime Video, is no longer moving forward at the streaming platform. This cancellation is particularly surprising given the recent greenlighting of a live-action Noir series starring Nicolas Cage.
The announcement of Silk: Spider Society‘s cancellation first broke on Variety and THR, later confirmed by IGN through a source close to the production. The series was set to be helmed by former The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang, who remains at Amazon under a multi-year overall deal. Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, along with Amy Pascal, were also on board, promising a high-quality production.
Sony Pictures Television will now attempt to shop the series to other studios, suggesting it could still see the light of day—just not on Prime Video. This turn of events is particularly intriguing, coming just days after Prime Video officially greenlit a live-action Noir series, with Nicolas Cage reprising his voice role from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
When Prime Video announced Silk in 2022, it was part of a multi-series deal to produce various live-action Spider-Man spinoffs with Sony. Sources indicate that despite Silk not moving forward, this broader plan is still intact. The industry buzz and fan expectations were high, making this sudden shift even more puzzling.
Signs of trouble began appearing late last year. In November 2023, the industry newsletter The Ankler reported that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had threatened Amazon Studios with legal action over shows whose development remained on pause nearly two months after the WGA strike ended in September. Silk was one of the shows mentioned.
In February, another report from The Ankler indicated that Silk‘s writers room had been “paused” despite being in “active development.” Writers were reportedly given the go-ahead to pursue other work while the pause was in place, signaling deeper issues within the production.
The series was based on the comic series created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, centered around Cindy Moon, a woman bitten by the same spider that bit Peter Parker. The comic followed Cindy as she escaped imprisonment in an underground bunker, learned about her powers, and attempted to reunite with her family. This rich narrative offered plenty of material for a compelling series.
Prime Video’s decision to halt Silk: Spider Society raises questions about their commitment to the Spider-Man spinoff universe. Given the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the potential of characters like Cindy Moon, this cancellation feels like a missed opportunity. The decision to continue with a Noir series while dropping Silk suggests a lack of coherence in their strategy.
For fans of the Spider Society series, the hope now lies in Sony’s ability to find a new home for Silk: Spider Society. This move could potentially lead to a platform better suited to handle the series’ unique blend of action and character development. The show’s compelling premise and strong production team make it a valuable asset that should not be overlooked.
In a nutshell, the cancellation of Silk: Spider Society at Prime Video is a significant misstep. The series promised to expand the Spider-Man universe in exciting new directions.
As we await further developments, it’s clear that the decision to drop Silk undermines the potential richness and diversity of the Spider Society series. For now, fans must stay tuned and hope that Sony successfully shops the series to a new platform that appreciates its worth.
