In this industry, money definitely talks, even when a brand is at a creative high. Despite the success that Marvel Studios and Sony have had since co-mingling the rights of Spider-Man for Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, it is being reported that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige won’t produce any further Spider-Man films because Disney and Sony Pictures can not reach new terms that would give the former a co-financing stake moving forward.
The dispute has allegedly been going on for a few months but the end result has essentially nixed Feige from the equation as well as Marvel from the future involvement of the Spider-Man universe. It all comes down money and both sides are basically standing their ground on their terms. Disney was asking that future Spider-Man films be a 50/50 co-financing arrangement between the studios, with discussions that this would even extend to other films in the Spider-Man universe. Sony apparently turned down that offer and according to “Deadline”, they never come back to the table to figure out some kind of compromise. Sony doesn’t want to share their biggest franchise and proposed keeping the arrangement going under their current deal with Marvel where they receive 5% of the first dollar gross and Disney refused to stick with those terms.
Kevin Feige reportedly loves the Spider-Man character and really wanted to work something out, despite having more on his plate with the next two phases under Marvel Studios. Feige was willing to fight and get a deal that worked but Sony feels they don’t need the Marvel leader moving forward. It’s their belief that all of the creative pieces are in place to keep the current creative flow going. Director Jon Watts is reportedly locked in for two more films as well as star, Tom Holland. Amy Pascal, who became a producer with Feige after she exited her executive position after presiding over the previous Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi and Marc Webb, is also said to be a strong creative voice they feel can keep the franchise going moving forward.
Sony has a full slate coming up for their extended Spider-Man universe. A Venom sequel is in the works with Andy Serkis in the director’s chair and Tom Hardy returning in the title role. There is also Morbius with Jared Leto and spinoffs for Silver Sable and Black Cat as well as Kraven The Hunter. They also scored with Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse which made big box office and won the Best Animated Feature Oscar without any help from Kevin Feige.
That being said, I wish they would’ve worked something out. Kevin Feige is clearly a driving force in what has made the MCU work and I’m hearing unless there is a big dramatic change, he’ll remain on the outs with Spider-Man and that’s a shame because I think his involvement would lead to great things for the character moving forward. Maybe Sony feels confident after Far From Home became their highest-grossing film worldwide recently but they definitely had help and a strong argument can be made that the creative foundation Feige helped lay down was a big part of that.
