Another live-action TV series set in the larger Spider-Man universe is headed our way. This time, it’s much more directly connected to Peter Parker. Though don’t expect to see Tom Holland suiting up as Spidey. Instead, one of the most controversial Marvel Comics storylines in history is getting the TV show treatment.
As reported by Deadline, Amazon Prime Video is closing in on a deal for a show based on the infamous Clone Saga storyline from the ‘90s. The show would focus on Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker, both clones of Peter Parker. Ben Reilly is the far more infamous of the two. However, Kaine was the first successful clone made by Jackal in the pages of the comics. While many details remain mysterious, it is said to be written by Kelvin Yu (American Born Chinese).
The currently untitled Spider-Man series is part of the deal between Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television. The goal is to generate TV shows based on characters from Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, aka the characters attached to Spider-Man that Sony controls the rights to. Spider-Noir aired its first season on Prime video earlier this year. The Nic Cage series was canceled after one season, however.
For those who aren’t familiar, The Clone Saga was a massive epic in the pages of Marvel Comics in the ‘90s. Spanning years across multiple titles, it dealt with Peter Parker’s Clone Ben Reilly, who took up the mantle of the Scarlet Spider. For a long time, it was largely hated by the fanbase. However, Ben Reilly has since led his own comics and has become popular in his own right. Adapting this particular storyline is unexpected, to put it mildly.
Here is a synopsis for The Clone Saga comic.
“Spider-Man’s clone is back! Spidey thought his clone was long dead, but where has the man now called Ben Reilly been for the last five years? Why has he returned? And is he Peter Parker’s dark side – or his better half? As the mysterious Judas Traveller and his companions study the two spiders, Ben enjoys a new lease on life – suiting up as the Scarlet Spider and swinging into action against Venom! But an unstable Peter is pushed to the brink in a confrontation with the Puma. Can Daredevil help bring him back from the edge?”
At one point, Sony was developing a Silk TV series based on Cindy Moon. That never came to fruition. It’s unclear if that’s still on the backburner or if the studio has moved onto other projects. What’s clear is that, even after Spider-Noir failed to get a renewal, there’s still interest in exploiting the larger Spider-Man franchise on the small screen.
The Clone Saga show doesn’t have a release date. Stay tuned.
What do you think? Do you like the idea of Ben Reilly getting his own show? Are you a fan of the Clone Saga? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Instagram!
