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Prime Video reportedly nears order for Spider-Man Clone Saga series

Deadline reported that Prime Video is close to ordering a Sony-universe Spider-Man series based on the Clone Saga, written by Kelvin Yu. It would follow the cancelled Spider-Noir, and the order is not final.

7 outlets · 1L · 6C · 0R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Den of Geek, The A.V. Club.

Image: Deadline
Image: The A.V. Club
Image: Screen Rant
Image: /Film
Image: Collider
Image: TVLine
Image: Den of Geek

1 / 7

The story, neutrally told

Deadline reported that Prime Video is closing in on a series order for a show based on Marvel's Clone Saga, set in Sony Pictures' Universe of Marvel Characters. The series is written by Kelvin Yu, creator of American Born Chinese, and is produced by Sony's Amy Pascal and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. It would follow Spider-Noir, which Prime Video cancelled after one season.

Deadline's sources gave conflicting accounts of the plot: some said Ben and Kaine grapple with being clones as other clones appear, while others said their origins as clones could be reimagined as new identities. Deadline warned that the series may draw on the 1990s comics but should see significant changes. The show continues Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television's multi-title Spider-themed TV deal and is expected to debut on MGM+ before arriving on Prime Video.

The Clone Saga ran across Spider-Man comics from October 1994 to December 1996 and is widely regarded as a troubled storyline, though Ben Reilly and Kaine are now established characters. No cast or release date has been announced, and the order has yet to be finalised.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The A.V. Club treats the news with wry scepticism, stressing the Clone Saga's poor reputation and mocking Sony's Spider-Man-adjacent projects.
Emphasis
The Clone Saga's derided legacy, the conflicting plot reports, and comparisons to Lanterns and Sony's villain films.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not note that the order is unconfirmed beyond Deadline's sourcing, or that the studios declined to comment.
Charged language
“historically derided, nostalgically tolerated”“a sick kind of sense”
For example
“historically derided, nostalgically tolerated “Clone Saga” event series from the 1990s” — The A.V. Club

Centre6 outlets

Framing
Trade and fan-culture outlets relay Deadline's exclusive as a promising but not final development, tied to the Spider-Noir cancellation. Den of Geek's opinion piece argues a bad idea can make a good show.
Emphasis
The Spider-Noir cancellation, Ben Reilly's name overlap with Nicolas Cage's Spider-Noir character, plot uncertainty and comics history.
Leaves out or plays down
Plot coverage is speculative, and some outlets call the project official though the order is not final.
Charged language
“absolute worst story”“Officially Returns”
For example
“the infamous and unanimously-agreed-upon absolute worst story in Spider-Man‘s 64-year history” — Den of Geek
“Ben Reilly is officially returning to Prime Video” — Collider

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.