Following the success of blockbusters Maleficent and The Other Woman (featuring this month's ELLE cover star, Kate Upton, no less), filmmakers have come to terms with the fact that there might just be something missing from their award-winning film formulae.

The answer? Leading women.

Cue Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers swapping their leading guys for leading ladies.

Last month, Marvel announced that Thor – the hammer-wielding powerhouse (and son of Odin) – would be changing gender in a new comic book series.

Jason Aaron, who is writing the new series, revealed: 'This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel universe. But it's unlike any Thor we've ever seen before.'

Image by Marvel Entertainment / Twitpic

Yesterday, we learnt that an all-female Ghostbusters remake is on the cards, directed by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids fame.

We also decided on who we thought should be cast for the roles. Lena Dunham, anyone?

Image by REX

Last night, Sylvester Stallone revealed at the Expendables 3 premiere in Leicester Square that a spin-off – dubbed The Expendabelles – has been given the go ahead. The news gets better though, as he also let slip that it could star Sigourney Weaver.

And now, better late than never, Sony has jumped on the bandwagon by planning to expand the Amazing Spider-Man series with a new, kick-ass Spider-woman character.

Image by Marvel Entertainment / Twitpic

Earlier this year, Mark Webb (director of The Amazing Spider-Man) told E! News that the possibility of having a Spider-Woman hadn't been on his mind, but that it was 'an interesting idea'.

Well, that 'interesting idea' has certainly sprouted some legs.

And don't you dare call them 'shapely'.

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