Despite canceling Spider-Noir after only one season, Amazon is still surprisingly willing to swing alongside Spider-Man as the studio nears an order for a new series in Sony Pictures’ Universe of Marvel Characters. This latest venture is set to adapt the famous (and notoriously chaotic) Marvel Comics “Clone Saga” storyline.
According to Deadline, the project focuses specifically on the second arc in that comic series, featuring two prominent Spider-Man clones: Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker. American Born Chinese writer Kelvin Yu has been tapped to pen the series.
Courtesy of Deadline’s write-up, Ben Reilly is described as a successful, stable Spider-Man clone whose name combines the first name of Peter’s uncle Ben and the maiden name of his aunt May. Ben eventually develops a superhero identity of his own, famously becoming the Scarlet Spider. On the flip side, Kaine Parker serves as the flawed, tormented first clone of Spider-Man.
According to sources with intimate knowledge of the project, Amazon’s adaptation will make significant changes to the fan-favorite comic arc. The story details remain pretty hazy at this time, with Deadline reporting conflicting interpretations of how Amazon will ultimately approach the material. One side suggests the TV series will follow Ben and Kaine as they grapple with their newly discovered identities as clones while simultaneously squaring off against other clones. (In the comics, another clone famously becomes the terrifying villain Spidercide.) Meanwhile, other sources claim the series may drastically alter Ben and Kaine’s origins as clones, allowing them to adopt entirely new identities.
Amy Pascal, Phil Lord, and Christopher Miller, who oversee the television universe for Sony TV and executive-produced Spider-Noir, are expected to executive-produce this Clone Saga series alongside Yu.
While I would personally prefer a series featuring Mayday Parker or Cindy Moon (Silk), I suppose there’s room for plenty of web-slinging heroes as Amazon expands Sony’s Spider-Verse. Still, until we hear more concrete details, I’ll keep my excitement in check. Admittedly, I’ve never actually read the Clone Saga, nor am I particularly familiar with Ben Reilly or Kaine Parker. Give me a Ghost-Spider series, dammit. That would instantly get my attention.