Seems Sony is making good on their plans to expand their Spider-Man on-screen universe: according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, Cabin in the Woods co-writer and director Drew Goddard has signed on to write and direct The Sinister Six, based on the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko created team of Spidey villains that have been around since the mid sixties. Goddard had previously been reported to be writing the screenplay, but this is the first confirmation that he will be directing the movie as well. This isn’t the only Marvel Universe property Goddard has a hand in; he’s set to produce the Daredevil series for Netflix and Marvel Studios.

The Sinister Six has had several different versions of the team in the comics, but the original line-up featured Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Vulture, and Kraven the Hunter. With The Amazing Spider-Man 2 introducing Electro (Jamie Foxx), Rhino (Paul Giamatti), and Green Goblin (Dane DeHann), and Lizard having already been introduced in the previous movie, that leaves two slots open. The trailers for Amazing Spider-Man 2 have hinted at both the Vulture and Doctor Octopus, so they could be the remaining two members. With Doc Ock having been the main villain in arguably the most successful Spider-Man movie from Sam Raimi’s original trilogy, Sony might not want to have a proper Amazing Spider-Man sequel revolve around him to avoid unfair comparisons, so they might save him for a Sinister Six movie instead.

The real question is will Spider-Man appear, since they are his villains and this is an extension of his world? Andrew Garfield only has a three picture deal, and although an Amazing Spider-Man 4 is happening, Sony might not want to waste him on a smaller role in a Sinister Six movie. The easy fix to that is to have the entire movie take place from the Sinister Six POV, so we never see Spider-Man outside the costume, and either Andrew Garfield does a voice-over or you get a sound-alike. Problem solved. It should also be noted that Bleeding Cool ran a rumor that the Sinister Six line-up might be seen as soon as Amazing Spider-Man 2. Post-credits scene maybe?