Fresh off the back of Kevin Feige’s comments that Marvel Studios would struggle to find room on its slate for a female-led superhero movie, Sony has announced that it will be releasing such a project in 2017.

Deadline reports that the studio is currently putting together a female-led spin-off from the Spider-Man franchise, with Black Cat seeming the most likely candidate.

Black Cat was last seen in a virtual cameo by Felicity Jones in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, appearing as an assistant to Harry Osborn, although alternative characters such as Spider-Girl and Silver Sable have also been mentioned as possibilities.

According to the report, Sony has already approached Lisa Joy Nolan (wife of Jonathan) to pen the script, with a shortlist of potential directors currently being drawn up.

Few people would have had Sony down as the key superhero studio to launch a female-led franchise, but with Warner and Marvel continuing to prevaricate, kudos to the studio for stepping up to the plate. It’s not before time.