【Watch Baddies Vol. 4 Online】

Sony's been busy spinning its own Marvel universe,Watch Baddies Vol. 4 Online and they've just netted their first female director.

Mashablehas confirmed that Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond the Lights) has entered negotiations to direct Silver & Black, a comic book movie centered around the characters Silver Sable and Black Cat.

The news follows last week's reveal that Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) would direct Tom Hardy in Venom, another entry in Sony's Marvel universe. Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World) scripted Silver & Black.

Prince-Bythewood has a bit of superhero experience already, having directed the pilot for Freeform's new Marvel show, Cloak & Dagger. Her other credits include Love & Basketballand The Secret Life of Bees.

Her hiring seems especially exciting at a time when male-led, male-directed superhero movies are still very much the norm. Next month's Wonder Woman, which is helmed by Patty Jenkins, and Marvel's upcoming Captain Marvel, which will be steered by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, are rare exceptions. Prince-Bythewood will be the first black woman ever to direct a Marvel movie.

Although Silver Sable, Black Cat, and Venom are all associated with Spider-Man in the comics, neither Venomnor Silver & Blackwill be connected to Spider-Man: Homecomingor any of the other films involving Tom Holland's Spider-Man. In other words, Peter Parker is part of the MCU now, but Silver Sable, Black Cat, and Venom are not.

(To make matters even more complicated, Sony is alsoplanning an animated Spider-Man movie that stars the comic book character Miles Morales and is not part of either continuity.)

However, both Venomand Silver & Blackare undoubtedly benefiting from the new wave of attention that Sony's Marvel properties are enjoying after Spider-Man's thrilling MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War. It's all quite confusing, but we can't blame Sony for wanting to capitalize on the hype.

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