Everybody out there is right now collectively pinching themselves and checking their pulse. No, you’re not dreaming. In the words of Senator Ron Paul…
Image Credt: imgur.com
Spider-Man is making his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in a move that pretty much now shadows any other studios attempt to rival the power that Marvel hold. At this point, DC and Warner Brothers could be releasing Batman V Superman tomorrow with a surprise appearance by The Joker and a free blowjob with every ticket, and it still wouldn't match the magnitude that this deal has. This, speaking from pretty much every facet of the comic book movie industry, is some real shit.
Today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this deal, and how it will affect you, the movie-goer.
Today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this deal, and how it will affect you, the movie-goer.
Image Credit: felipefierro.webs.com
The Business Aspect
Here’s a direct quote from Marvel’s press release:
“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.”
Let’s just get this out of the way: none of this would be even remotely possible if it were not for Kevin Feige. This man has not put a step wrong since beat one of day one with Iron Man (Okay, we’ll forget about Iron Man 3, shut up, I’m making a point here) and is the main reason why the MCU exists today. His man, single handily, made comic book movies relevant again and put superheroes, and Marvel as a whole, back on the map. If just for today, take a moment to bask in this man’s glory and worship him like the Producer God he is.
Praise be unto him.
With that out of the way, let’s highlight the important parts of this deal.
Firstly, let’s just say that the spin that Sony bought Marvel on board is presumably just to save face on Sony’s part. It’s common knowledge at this point that Sony’s last few films, including The Amazing Spider-Man 2, have been complete bombs. Marvel, on the other hand, are 10 for 10 knockouts with Avengers: Age of Ultron undoubtedly set up as their 11th. Sony were subject to a hacking scandal late last year as well, which then forced Sony’s hand to open up negations around letting Spidey play in the MCU. Today, that deal now exists. But the safe assumption is that Sony’s lousy box office performance for 2014 was a major factor in getting Spidey back.
Firstly, let’s just say that the spin that Sony bought Marvel on board is presumably just to save face on Sony’s part. It’s common knowledge at this point that Sony’s last few films, including The Amazing Spider-Man 2, have been complete bombs. Marvel, on the other hand, are 10 for 10 knockouts with Avengers: Age of Ultron undoubtedly set up as their 11th. Sony were subject to a hacking scandal late last year as well, which then forced Sony’s hand to open up negations around letting Spidey play in the MCU. Today, that deal now exists. But the safe assumption is that Sony’s lousy box office performance for 2014 was a major factor in getting Spidey back.
Image Credit: screenrant.com
What this deal has always felt like to the fans.
From a business perspective as well, take a look at the final part of that quote. “Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films”. So basically, the deal involves Marvel getting to co-produce the new Spider-Man movies and have the web head play in the MCU movies, but Sony have the power to make the Spider-Man movies themselves. What’s interesting here, is even though Kevin Feige (Praise be unto him) will be there to help navigate future Spider-Man endeavours into successful territories, Sony still have to finance every aspect of the production.
That, in a way, is incredibly clever on Marvel’s part.
That, in a way, is incredibly clever on Marvel’s part.
Image Credit: fuckyeahreactions.tumblr.com
No, seriously, think about it.
They got Spider-Man into their universe, all of his other movies now happening in their universe, for presumably little to no money. They then don’t have to pay anything to make the Spider-Man movies, but can call on him and his friends to appear at will. They don’t have to market the movies, although they most certainly will. They don’t have to pay to distribute it through Disney, because Sony will do it. Not a single penny of Marvel money will be taken from other projects like The Avengers or solo movies like Thor and Black Panther to fund Spider-Man movies, unless he crosses over (In which case, the crossover movies have ridiculous budgets, so I don’t see it being a feasible problem because these films basically print money). When it comes down to it, there are really only two problems with this deal: They will have to pay to distribute the films in MCU collected box sets or for TV syndication, and if Sony wants to do something stupid with the character, they can’t immediately put their foot down. However, Kevin Fiege (Praise be unto him) will always be there to show them the light.
It is seemingly a win-win situation.
They got Spider-Man into their universe, all of his other movies now happening in their universe, for presumably little to no money. They then don’t have to pay anything to make the Spider-Man movies, but can call on him and his friends to appear at will. They don’t have to market the movies, although they most certainly will. They don’t have to pay to distribute it through Disney, because Sony will do it. Not a single penny of Marvel money will be taken from other projects like The Avengers or solo movies like Thor and Black Panther to fund Spider-Man movies, unless he crosses over (In which case, the crossover movies have ridiculous budgets, so I don’t see it being a feasible problem because these films basically print money). When it comes down to it, there are really only two problems with this deal: They will have to pay to distribute the films in MCU collected box sets or for TV syndication, and if Sony wants to do something stupid with the character, they can’t immediately put their foot down. However, Kevin Fiege (Praise be unto him) will always be there to show them the light.
It is seemingly a win-win situation.
The New Spider-Man
Image Credit: Unknown
This image is now a possibility. Did you get shivers too?
Now let’s talk Spidey. The press release states that this will be a new Spider-Man who will début in an MCU movie before going on his own adventures in a Sony/Marvel co-operation. This means that a new actor is coming on board to play Spider-Man and Andrew Garfield and the Amazing version of Spidey is now dead in the water, hopefully along with any plans to make a movie around the Sinister Six, Venom or bloody Aunt May. Sony was taking some Class-A stupid pills before today.
So, here we have a third recast of Spider-Man in ten years (Tobey McGuire, Andrew Garfield and the unannounced newcomer), which is kind of incredible to think about. Until you realise there was actually four people who played Batman in the space of ten years between 1989 and 1999 (Michael Keaton, Kevin Conroy, Vil Kilmer and George Clooney), and nobody was complaining then. So yeah, this isn’t uncommon, people.
More importantly, the press release states that it is still Peter Parker in the shoes for the rebirth of Spidey, and not any other version like Miles Morales. It’s not to say it won’t ever happen, but for now, it seems unlikely. Marvel Studios tend not to stray from the comic origins too much unless it benefits the narrative (Again, forget the Mandarin ever happened), so it’s unlikely that we will see any cross-racial casting like the new Fantastic Four’s Johnny Storm. Sorry, Donald Glover!
So, here we have a third recast of Spider-Man in ten years (Tobey McGuire, Andrew Garfield and the unannounced newcomer), which is kind of incredible to think about. Until you realise there was actually four people who played Batman in the space of ten years between 1989 and 1999 (Michael Keaton, Kevin Conroy, Vil Kilmer and George Clooney), and nobody was complaining then. So yeah, this isn’t uncommon, people.
More importantly, the press release states that it is still Peter Parker in the shoes for the rebirth of Spidey, and not any other version like Miles Morales. It’s not to say it won’t ever happen, but for now, it seems unlikely. Marvel Studios tend not to stray from the comic origins too much unless it benefits the narrative (Again, forget the Mandarin ever happened), so it’s unlikely that we will see any cross-racial casting like the new Fantastic Four’s Johnny Storm. Sorry, Donald Glover!
Image Credit: moviepilot.com
Pictured: Never gonna happen.
But at the same time, this will never happen either... Thank Feige (Praise be unto him)!
Image Credit: moviepilot.com
Pictured: A nightmare.
But when will we see our new web slinger? The press release states that our new web head will join the MCU in another movie before appearing in his own. If you had to put your money on which one, though, the best bet is Captain America: Civil War. Whilst the scripts may need very quick revision and the casting on Parker may need to be done lighting fast, there is nothing stopping a new Spider-Man making a post credits appearance next year in Civil War. Other than that, the only other logical appearance would be in Doctor Strange, and whilst the Sorcerer Supreme has teamed up with Spider-Man in the past, it would make hardly any sense to shoehorn in a new Spidey alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s début as Stephen Strange. There’s also Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but given that that movie takes place light-years away from Earth is probably a deal breaker for that.
On July 28th 2017, Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man, the Sony financed and Marvel co-produced Spider-Man standalone movie, will be released. It will be the sixteenth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and at the very least, the second appearance of the new Peter Parker. Now that the slate has been wiped clean again, it’s unclear who else will appear, but time will tell.
On July 28th 2017, Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man, the Sony financed and Marvel co-produced Spider-Man standalone movie, will be released. It will be the sixteenth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and at the very least, the second appearance of the new Peter Parker. Now that the slate has been wiped clean again, it’s unclear who else will appear, but time will tell.
Image Credit: screenrant.com
Looking into the future, it’s a forgone conclusion that Spider-Man will then appear in the Avengers: Infinity War movies, but the conjecture is that Spider-Man may end up founding the New Avengers, a line-up that has also prominently featured Luke Cage, Captain Marvel and Mockingbird. Indeed, Spidey could at least included in the roster for a roster-changed Avengers 4 so that characters like Iron Man and Captain America can eventually be retired.
The Effect on the MCU
Spider-Man’s inclusion into the MCU has meant that some reshuffling with Marvel’s movie plans has occurred as well. Here's the full slate of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies right through to 2019. Updates are in bold.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron: April 30(UK)/May 1(US), 2015
- Ant-Man: July 17, 2015
- Captain America: Civil War: May 6, 2016
- Doctor Strange: November 4, 2016
- Guardians of the Galaxy 2: May 5, 2017
- Marvel and Sony's Spider-Man: July 28th, 2017
- Thor: Ragnarok: November 3rd, 2017
- Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1: May 4, 2018
- Black Panther: July 6th, 2018
- Captain Marvel: November 2nd, 2018
- Avengers: Infinity War, Part 2: May 3, 2019
- Inhumans: July 12, 2019
Image Credit: goldsaintcity.wordpress.com
So what has changed? Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and The Inhumans have all had their movies reshuffled so that Spider-Man can fit into the plans for future cross-over movies. Whilst Thor: Ragnarok and Captain Marvel have gotten off lightly, only delayed by a few months, Black Panther and Inhumans have been given the shaft by this joint deal. Here’s what has happened:
This ripple effect has bumped Black Panther into a position where it will be two years after his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War before his solo movie, and The Inhumans will not even register on the outcome of the Infinity War against Thanos. Instead, presumably the Inhumans movie will be used to set up Phase 4 of the MCU, where the stakes will be raised even higher. Guess who else is a major villain of The Inhumans?
- Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man has taken Thor: Raganrok’s old date.
- Thor: Ragnarok has taken Black Panther’s old date.
- Black Panther has taken Captain Marvel’s old date.
- Captain Marvel has taken Inhumans’s old date.
- Inhumans has been rescheduled for July 12 2019.
This ripple effect has bumped Black Panther into a position where it will be two years after his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War before his solo movie, and The Inhumans will not even register on the outcome of the Infinity War against Thanos. Instead, presumably the Inhumans movie will be used to set up Phase 4 of the MCU, where the stakes will be raised even higher. Guess who else is a major villain of The Inhumans?
Image Credit: moviepilot.com
Oh Jesus...
The Avengers: Infinity War movies will not move from their respective release dates, which will mean some script reworking, if indeed scripting has even begun. All we know for sure is that Spider-Man can and most likely will appear in both parts of the Infinity War.
Conjecture on the Future
Here’s the best part about the Spider-Man deal: Everything that was Spider-Man is now Marvel Studios. Here’s just a short list of people that are now eligible to join the MCU:
And of course, we can make the impossible possible once more…
JK Simmons returning as J. Jonah Jameson!
- Green Gobln
- Venom
- Scarlet Spider
- Carnage
- Doctor Octopus
- Black Cat
- Kraven The Hunter
- Mysterio
- Electro
- Rhino
- The Lizard
- Morbius The Living Vampire
- Shocker
- Sandman
- Vulture
And of course, we can make the impossible possible once more…
JK Simmons returning as J. Jonah Jameson!
Image Credit: screenrant.com
Presumably, this is the collective face of Marvel and Sony right now.
Not only that, but these people and their respective business are now expected to exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here are just a few ways this can impact the MCU.
- A business arms race between Stark Industries and OsCorp, with competition from Wilson Fisk
- Flash Thompson suits up as Agent Venom and joins the Guardians of the Galaxy
- Norman Osborne forms the Dark Avengers
- Jessica Jones, Black Cat, Spider-Woman, Mockingbird, Black Widow and Captain Marvel become the A-Force
- The New Avengers are formed with Spider-Man, Luke Cage and Mockingbird in the line-up
- Phil Coulson becomes Spider-Man’s SHEILD tutor
- Jessica Drew, the future Spider-Woman, is interrogated by the new SHIELD over her links to HYDRA
- Daredevil is joined by Spider-Man in Hell’s Kitchen
- Blade goes toe-to-toe with Morbius The Living Vampire
Image Credit: bigglasgowcomic.com
Pictured: Our new Utopian MCU
And those are just a few of the many possibilities this deal holds. Whether or not Marvel go for any of this is all just conjecture of course, and Marvel still haven’t got back to me on that proposed Marvel Max Netflix series, ending with a Blade/Ghost Rider/Punisher fight, which I am totally free to produce and direct in case you were wondering, Mr Feige (Praise be unto him). For certain though, it’s a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan!
A Thank You to the Fans
None of this deal would be made possible if it were not for two things. Kevin Feige (Praise be unto him) and you, the fans. The fans went out and voted with their wallets and spoke their minds online. It would be foolish to think this has no impact. Marvel Studios has continuously given the fans exactly what they want and have reaped the benefits. Sony has cut corners and fiddled with their movies to please an executive board, and the fans did not respond well with neither money nor mind. This deal has done the impossible and changed the face of this crazy subculture-turned-media enterprise, possibly forever. And I highly doubt any of this was chance or fate, but rather evolution. The fans know what they want, and have done for years. Now, we are being heard.
Image Credit: marvel.com
This is OUR Spider-Man, OUR Cinematic Universe and OUR culture. Marvel and Sony may win financially, but the fans win overall, as their experience of the outcome of this deal will be unforgettable.
By Mike Owen
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of all three of our current podcasts, he is responsible for logo, art design and site design, and does a good deal of writing across the spectrum.
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of all three of our current podcasts, he is responsible for logo, art design and site design, and does a good deal of writing across the spectrum.