We’re all familiar with the story at this point. One not-so-fine day at the end of August, we all woke up to the internet-breaking news that Sony and Disney had reached an impasse in their renegotiations of the usage of the Spider-Man character on the big screen. As a result, Spider-Man would no longer be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While a lot of fans were hopeful, in the coming weeks, the non-deal seemed set in stone and there was no coming back from it.
That is until the unlikeliest of heroes stepped in and saved the day. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Holland, the actor who plays the latest rendition of Spider-Man made multiple appeals to Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger and Sony film chairman Tom Rothman to reach a resolution and for Marvel to produce a third Spidey film for Sony and for the character to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at least for a final time. The resolution was announced on 27 September 2019.
Also per THR:
Marvel chief Kevin Feige (who also is teaming with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy on a Star Wars movie) will run creative point. Disney will earn 25 percent of net gross on a third Spider-Man — opening July 16, 2021 — and chip in 25 percent of the budget.
It is reported that Holland reached out to the top guys at Disney and Sony after the conclusion of Disney’s D23 Expo in August. Tom Holland’s words held a lot of weight cause not only was he the actor who plays Spider-Man, but he is also set to lead Sony’s Uncharted film franchise. When the poster boy of your company is talking, you listen.
After reaching a resolution, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige released a statement that said:
“I am thrilled that Spidey’s journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it. Spider-Man is a powerful icon and hero whose story crosses all ages and audiences around the globe. He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.”
