In the months since the underwhelming performance of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 at the box office this past summer, we have seen an increase in the number of internet rumors suggesting that a possible deal could be worked out between Sony and Marvel Studios that would see the web-slinger be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it remains unclear if that could or will ever actually happen, it now has been confirmed that those inter-studio conversations are very real.
Going through information that has been leaked as a result of the Sony Pictures hack, The Wall Street Journal has picked up on email correspondence between executives at Sony and the Walt Disney Company that feature details about a possible Spider-Man-centric deal that was on the table at at least one point in time. In an email from Sony Pictures President Doug Belgrad to Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a "potential scenario" is introduced that would see Marvel producing a new trilogy of Spider-Man movies that would at the same time see Sony keep "creative control, marketing and distribution" for the films. There is also some suggestion that Marvel Studios approached the competing studio about the idea of including the wall-crawling superhero in Captain America: Civil War.
As exciting as all of this may sound, it still sounds like it all may just still be a pipe dream. Talks between Marvel and Sony have apparently broken down, and the latter studio is planning to continue with their own Spider-Man slate. What's more, insiders have told the Wall Street Journal that there are plans to have what is being called a "Spidey summit" next month that will see executives sitting down to really figure out what their current plans are for their big superhero franchise. At this stage we have heard talks about a Sinister Six film, a Venom spin-off and a female-fronted title set in the Spider-Man universe, but at this point none of those plans seem entirely firm. Sinister Six, which has Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard attached to write the script and helm, is currently dated for a November 11, 2016 release date, which means the movie would have to go into production at some point next year.
Looking at the situation from the Marvel Studios side of things, having Spider-Man would definitely be a nice boost for the future, but the truth is that they don't necessarily need the wall-crawler right now. Not only are things going quite swimmingly when it comes to box office performance and critical approval, but it even looks like the studio has basically moved on from the idea of using Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War and will just be using Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther instead. All that being said, I find it hard to believe that they are going to completely give up on the idea of eventually bringing Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
