Sony and Marvel Agree On Spider-Man Deal

Spider-Man Marvel Films
Spider-Man Marvel Films

Following weeks of speculation, a deal between Sony and Marvel Studios to share big-screen control of Spider-Man is now official, announced Monday night in a joint release on Marvel.com. The announcement states the new Spider-Man will debut in an as-yet undisclosed Marvel Studios film, with a co-produced Spider-Man solo film following on July 28, 2017. Sony will still finance, distribute and own the Spidey solo films, along with retaining final creative control.

The next “Spider-Man” solo film will be produced by Amy Pascal, who last week was announced as departing her position as Co-Chairperson of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President of Production. Marvel and Sony are “exploring opportunities” to integrate characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe into upcoming Spidey solo films, according to the release. The five Spidey films, ranging from 2002’s original to last summer’s “Amazing Spider-Man 2,” have grossed more than $4 billion in combined worldwide box office.

“I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie,” Feige said in a statement. “Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years.”

Despite being the most recognizable superhero on Marvel’s roster, every Spider-Man feature film has been released by Sony Pictures, stemming from a long-standing licensing deal that long pre-dates the formation of Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which debuted in 2008 with the first “Iron Man.” With Marvel and Sony now sharing live-action control of Spider-Man, this leaves the X-Men and Fantastic Four — both at 20th Century Fox — as the only high-profile Marvel properties out of Marvel Studios’ reach.

“We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters,” Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton said in the announcement. “Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man. This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans.”

Speculation of a potential deal between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures increased this past December, with leaked emails following the illegal hack on Sony revealing preliminary discussions of the possibility, including the prospect of Spider-Man appearing in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” Spider-Man played a major role in the comic book “Civil War” storyline, though at this point, the Marvel Studios film slated to debut the new live-action Spidey has not yet been revealed.

UPDATE: According to a report from the Wrap, Andrew Garfield will not reprise his role as Spider-Man.

The next on-screen Spidey may be "much younger" than 31-year-old actor Andrew Garfield.
The next on-screen Spidey may be “much younger” than 31-year-old actor Andrew Garfield.

Keep reading Comics Talk for the latest on Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man collaboration. Sony and Marvel’s full press release follows.

Official Press Release

Sony Pictures Entertainment Brings Marvel Studios Into The Amazing World Of Spider-Man

New Spider-Man Will Appear First in an Upcoming Marvel Film Within Marvel’s Cinematic Universe

Marvel’s Kevin Feige to Produce Next Installment of the Spider-Man Franchise with Amy Pascal

(Culver City, California, and Burbank, California February 09, 2015) – Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Studios announced today that Sony is bringing Marvel into the amazing world of Spider-Man.

Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on July 28, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.

The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.

Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company said: “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

“We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. “This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans.”

“Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Doug Belgrad, president, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.

“I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years.”

Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide. Information CBR

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