Spider-Man is swinging into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and getting a makeover.
Marvel announced a partnership agreement with Sony Pictures to work together bringing Peter Parker into the Marvel Studios franchise.
Sony has controlled the film rights to the friendly neighborhood webslinger since 1999 with three films by Sam Raimi and starring Toby McGuire and two starring Andrew Garfield.
Marvel’s Kevin Feige will come on board to produce the next Spider-Man films for Sony and Spidey will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and other Avengers.
The new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel Universe film. After the hero is relaunched a new Spider-Man will by Marvel and Sony will arrive in July 2017 according to The Hollywood Reporter. No official word but Garfield is not expected to return.
Here’s the official statement from Marvel:
“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.
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.”
While we have official word it’s likely Spider-Man’s first Marvel Universe appearance could be in Captain America: Civil War based on the fight between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark over the Superhero Registration Act. Peter Parker had a huge role in that comic book epic.
Brian Michael Bendis brought Spider-Man in his epic New Avengers run which led to Civil War.
What do you think of the Marvel/Sony plan for Spidey?
By Editor