Sony Spins A Bigger Movie Web With Spidey Spin-Offs?

2013 has been a bad year for Sony Pictures and as such the company is shuffling it's deck announcing  a "significant shift in emphasis from motion pictures to higher margin television"

CEO Michael Lynton shared the news during a conference call with investors--The Wrap and Deadline.

Sony is cutting back its film slate going from 22-24 to around 18 movies a year rather than the recent years. In fact the belt tightening has already begun, Sony opened nine films this past summer but only has four releases in the same period next year.

The company's co-chairman Amy Pascal said something that set the Net abuzz when she was asked to elaborate on what type of films the studio hopes to release over the next few years:

"We are going to access Marvel's full world of Spider-Man characters, so be on the lookout for new heroes and villains."

Media speculation is that the studio is seriously considering expanding the film series, especially since Pascal used the term 'new heroes'. It also pretty much confirms that The Sinister Six would be a part of either The Amazing Spider-Man 3 or The Amazing Spider-Man 4, and has already boosted talk of a potential "Venom" movie.

While that means more comic book movies from Sony, it also means less variety at the studio. Sony says they plan to set a "higher bar" and will be tougher when green lighting new projects. Directors in particular will be "on the financial hook for financial overruns".