~Matt Key
More details on the Sony/Marvel collaboration deal for Spider-Man have emerged thanks to a reports out of both Variety and Hollywood Reporter earlier today.
Both reports note that this deal is unprecedented as Hollywood, traditionally, does not play well with others. At the very least, they do not like to share their toys all that much, with Variety noting “(These deals) are so rare that Marvel and Fox cast different actors to play Quicksilver in The Avengers: Age of Ultron and X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
But, as both reports note, Sony very much needed this boost as the franchise, though collecting $4 billion across the board, has been declining ever since Spider-Man 3’s cumulative $891 Million box office. Letting Marvel essentially “borrow” their character, incorporating him into the worldwide frenzy that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will “generate more exposure for its big screen hero.” And, as Variety notes, it …
“creates some serious goodwill among Spider-Man fans, who have wanted to see the character become part of the Avengers.”
On the other hand, Marvel finally gets to see one of their most recognizable characters, Spider-Man, the prodigal son, finally come home. Though, even more than this, Sony has never had the merchandising rights to Spider-Man, those have always stayed with Marvel/Disney, who also retains the rights for TV and other platforms. This level of new exposure for the character could result in a bigger avalanche of cash than any box office cut could have ever afforded them.
Hurray for collaboration! EVERYONE WINS!
Here are the bulletpoints collected from both reports.
- Marvel Studios will not have to pay Sony Pictures “for the rights to put Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War,” the Avengers or any of it’s other superhero films.
- Marvel, however, will not get any box office money that Sony gets for their solo outings with Spider-Man.
- Sony, in the same way, will not get any money from Marvel or Disney for any of their films that feature the hero. The Reporter describes it as a quid pro quo transaction with no money, at all, being exchanged.
- Along those lines, it’s possible for Marvel to make money from the solo Spider-Man films if “certain box office milestones” are reached, with Marvel being treated, on the whole, like a producer in this situation instead of like a studio or distributor.
In other words, whoever makes the film gets that sweet, sweet box office money.
- Director Marc Webb will not return to helm the solo film.
- Sony’s Amy Pascal and Marvel Studios Head Kevin Feige will co-produce the Solo Spider-Man film to be released on July 28, 2017.
- Amazing Spider-Man producers Matt Tolmach and Avi Arad will now be executive producers “with no real say in the creative direction of the franchise.”
- Marvel and Sony are still exploring opportunities to integrate more characters from the Marvel universe into future Spider-Man films.
- Andrew Garfield will no longer play Peter Parker. The two studios are looking for younger actors than Garfield, who’s 31 years old. Speculation is that they want a Peter Parker who’s still in high school. Sony will retain final approval of casting, giving them a more control there.
- The Amazing Spider-Man 3 is cancelled.
- Sinister Six, Venom and a female-centric Spider-Man film are still in the works from Sony, though Marvel will not be directly involved in them.
- Kevin Feige will only be involved with Sony’s new Spider-Man film and is “not expected to be creatively involved with the spinoffs.”
- The Reporter then goes on to say, “One knowledgeable source sees the move as a first step to Marvel reacquiring the rights to Spider-Man down the road, while another believes Disney is positioning itself to acquire Sony should it ever become available.”
One last thing, in an article from Wall Street Journal, according to a person with knowledge on the matter, Spider-Man will make his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War, though this is far from confirmed.
Fox Studios, are you paying attention?
Please.
Everyone benefits. See?
Please pay attention Fox…
Please?
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He has two cats and knows all things about Doctor Strange but little else.
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