Spider-Man is one of the most iconic superheroes, and his cinematic journey has been nothing short of complex. Over the years, the character has moved between studios, faced legal battles, and been part of two major cinematic universes: Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, Sony’s approach to the character, paired with its collaboration with Marvel, has led to numerous twists and turns in Spider-Man’s story. In this article, we will explore the past, present, and future of Spider-Man in cinema, especially focusing on the ongoing battle over his movie rights and the potential for Marvel to reclaim control.
The Evolution of Spider-Man’s Movie Rights
In the late ’90s, Marvel was struggling financially, and many of its most valuable characters were sold off to various studios to avoid bankruptcy. Spider-Man, one of the crown jewels of the Marvel Universe, was sold to Sony, and the company gained the exclusive film rights to the character. From that point on, Sony became the custodian of the web-slinger, handling the various iterations of Spider-Man movies, including Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, the Andrew Garfield-led Amazing Spider-Man series, and the Spider-Verse films.
Sony’s decision to hold onto the rights to Spider-Man has had a significant impact on the superhero genre. While they’ve delivered a number of hit films, they’ve also struggled with their handling of the character, especially when it comes to the live-action spin-offs and their relationship with Marvel Studios. Despite this, Spider-Man remains one of Sony’s most profitable properties, which is why they continue to hold onto the rights to this day.
Sony’s Approach to Spider-Man in the Cinematic Universe
Sony’s approach to Spider-Man has been an interesting one. After the success of Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Sony attempted to continue the web-slinger’s legacy through the Amazing Spider-Man series. However, after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 failed to meet expectations both critically and commercially, Sony made a bold move: they struck a deal with Marvel Studios, allowing Spider-Man to appear in the MCU. This agreement also allowed Marvel to incorporate Spider-Man into key MCU films, starting with Captain America: Civil War in 2016.
In parallel, Sony launched the Spider-Man spin-off universe, known as the Sony Pictures Universe of Spider-Man related characters, which began with the 2018 film Venom. The movie, which featured no Spider-Man, was a surprise hit at the box office. This success led to a series of spin-offs, including Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Craven the Hunter and Madame Web.
However, these films have had mixed results. While the Venom movies found some success, Morbius was a critical and commercial failure, and the upcoming spin-offs face uncertainty. Sony’s decision not to use Spider-Man in these films, despite being allowed to, has been a key point of discussion.
Sony’s Decision to Keep Spider-Man Out of the SSU
According to recent reports, Sony was allowed to use Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the SSU, but they chose not to. This decision dates back to the first Venom movie. Initially, Marvel Studios advised against including Spider-Man, as they wanted to preserve the character’s connection to the MCU and avoid any confusion with the character’s portrayal. Sony agreed and kept Spider-Man out of the film, but the success of Venom without Spider-Man led to a bigger decision: why should they use Spider-Man at all?
Sony executives felt they could sell Spider-Man-related films without relying on the actual character, thinking that fans would flock to any Spider-Man-related movie, regardless of his involvement. They didn’t want to risk damaging Spider-Man’s brand by diluting it through these spin-offs. Sony’s decision to create a Spider-Man-adjacent universe rather than fully integrate Spider-Man has ultimately caused confusion among fans, and the results have been mixed at best.
Looking back, it’s clear that Sony’s hesitation to include Spider-Man in the SSU may have been a strategic move. While it might have led to some short-term success, it also led to the critical failure of films like Morbius and hindered the potential success of other films in the Spider-Man universe.
The Deal Between Marvel and Sony
Sony’s partnership with Marvel Studios has been one of the most complicated relationships in Hollywood. Marvel’s Kevin Feige and Sony have worked together to allow Spider-Man to appear in key MCU films, but there are frequent disagreements about the character’s portrayal and the direction of his solo films.
Under the current deal, Sony and Marvel share the rights to Spider-Man, with Sony handling solo films and Marvel incorporating him into the MCU. However, the deal has often been contentious, with both parties clashing over creative control. A major issue arose in 2019 when the two studios nearly parted ways, but a last-minute agreement allowed Spider-Man to remain in the MCU.
While the collaboration has allowed Spider-Man to appear in films like Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, it has also led to complications. The success of the Spider-Man films in the MCU has highlighted the potential for the character within Marvel Studios’ broader storytelling, but it’s also raised questions about the future of Spider-Man’s role in the MCU and Sony’s continued involvement.
The Potential Return of Spider-Man to Marvel
One of the most intriguing possibilities is the potential for Marvel Studios to regain full control of Spider-Man. This scenario could play out similarly to the Fantastic Four and X-Men acquisitions, where Disney (Marvel’s parent company) could buy back the rights to Spider-Man from Sony.
Currently, Sony is obligated to make a Spider-Man film every five years or risk losing the rights, and while the spin-offs like Venom and Morbius count toward this requirement, there are still uncertainties about how long Sony can continue to produce Spider-Man-related content without Marvel’s involvement. Some reports suggest that if the SSU films continue to struggle at the box office, Sony might be more inclined to sell Spider-Man back to Marvel, potentially for a massive sum, perhaps $5 billion or more.
If this happens, it would open up a world of possibilities for Spider-Man in the MCU. Marvel could incorporate Spider-Man more deeply into the MCU, making him a central character in upcoming sagas. The integration of Spider-Man into Marvel’s larger narrative could also provide the character with greater development, particularly with his role in future MCU storylines, including the much-anticipated Secret Wars.
What Marvel Would Do if They Got Spider-Man Back
If Marvel were to regain full control of Spider-Man, there are several exciting possibilities for the character’s future. First and foremost, Marvel would have the creative freedom to integrate Spider-Man more deeply into the MCU, especially with upcoming stories like Secret Wars and the Mutant Saga.
Marvel could take the opportunity to finally address the symbiote storyline, which has been teased in the MCU since Spider-Man: No Way Home. The character could be depicted wearing the black suit and dealing with the psychological effects of the symbiote’s influence. This would allow Marvel to tell a more faithful adaptation of the Venom and Carnage storylines, with Peter Parker confronting these deadly threats in a more meaningful way.
Moreover, the inclusion of Spider-Man in street-level stories would be a major shift in the MCU’s approach to the character. A film like Spider-Man 4 could focus on his battles against iconic New York villains like Kingpin, while also setting up future crossover events with characters like Daredevil and the Punisher.
The Symbiote Saga and the Future of Spider-Man
One of the most anticipated storylines in Spider-Man’s future is the symbiote saga. If Marvel regains the rights, they could finally adapt the Venom and Carnage storylines in a way that does justice to the comics. In this saga, Spider-Man would struggle with the power and corruption of the symbiote, eventually leading to the introduction of Carnage and the threat of Null, the god of the symbiotes.
Marvel could build a multi-movie arc around the symbiote, culminating in a massive crossover event like King in Black, where Venom and Spider-Man would have to team up to stop Null from destroying the Marvel Universe. This storyline would give Spider-Man a unique place within the MCU, allowing him to play a central role in some of the most high-stakes events in Marvel’s history.
The Role of Miles Morales in the MCU
Another exciting possibility is the introduction of Miles Morales into the MCU. While Miles has been featured in Sony’s animated Spider-Verse films, Marvel could eventually bring the character into live-action. This could happen after the Mutant Saga, where Miles would take on a more prominent role in the MCU, possibly even becoming the new Spider-Man after Peter Parker’s arc concludes.
Marvel could use Miles as a supporting character for Peter in future films, before giving him his own solo movies and projects. This would create a perfect transition for fans, allowing Miles to take over as the face of Spider-Man in the MCU.
Conclusion
The future of Spider-Man in cinema is filled with uncertainty, but the potential for the character is enormous. Whether Sony continues to hold onto the rights or Marvel Studios eventually regains full control, Spider-Man’s role in the MCU is poised to expand. With the potential for a deeper exploration of the symbiote saga, the introduction of Miles Morales, and a more integrated role in the MCU, the future looks bright for the web-slinger.
No matter what happens, Spider-Man will always remain one of the most beloved and important characters in both the Sony and Marvel Cinematic Universes. Fans will undoubtedly continue to follow his journey with anticipation, hoping for an exciting future for the web-slinger.
