SPIDER-MAN leaves the MCU Over Disney-Sony Dispute, Official Sony Statement, & Jon Watts Might Not Direct

Spider-Man leaves MCU Over Disney / Sony Dispute, Official Sony Statement, & Jon Watts Might Not Direct

Marvel Studio’s involvement with the new incarnation of Spider-man played by Tom Holland and Spider-Man’s involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come to end. Spider-Man will not be on-screen in any future MCU films for this point forward because of a financial disagreement.

Sony Pictures and The Walt Disney Company have gotten into a dispute over the co-financing stake for future Spider-man films. Disney was seeking a 50/50 co-financing stake for “Marvel and [Kevin] Feige’s continued guiding hand” with the scripts, tone, casting, and oversight of new Spider-Man films. Sony wanted Disney to keep their previous deal, which was Marvel receiving “in the range of 5% of first dollar gross.”

Sony did not like Disney’s new terms, especially since Marvel already owns all of the merchandising rights to Spider-Man. Disney, in turn, did not like or agree to Sony’s terms.

With the $1.1 Billion success of Spider-Man: Far From Home, the web-slinger has become Sony Pictures’ most valuable film franchise. Giving up half of that franchise is not something Sony was prepared to do, no matter how beneficial Marvel and its personnel’s influence have been on the current incarnation of Spider-Man and his film universe.

With Disney not budging on their ask and Sony not budging on their refusal, talks broke down and leaks of the destroyed relationship began circulating yesterday.

Sony released this press statement about the negotiations and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige not remaining the lead creative producer for Sony’s Spider-Man films:

Much of today’s news about Spider-Man has mischaracterized recent discussions about Kevin Feige’s involvement in the franchise. We are disappointed, but respect Disney’s decision not to have him continue as a lead producer of our next live-action Spider-Man film.

We hope this might change in the future, but understand that the many new responsibilities that Disney has given him — including all their newly added Marvel properties — do not allow time for him to work on IP they do not own. Kevin is terrific and we are grateful for his help and guidance and appreciate the path he has helped put us on, which we will continue.

The Sony press statement has placed spin on the entire situation. Nowhere in the statement does it mention money. The Sony statement makes it look as though Disney and Kevin Feige want to walk away and that Feige is too busy to work on the next Spider-Man film (and all those to follow). Sony wants it to look as though Disney decided that Feige shouldn’t be involved with Sony’s Spider-Man films anymore.

It is unfortunate that Sony would take this tack after everything that Disney and Feige have done for the current incarnation of Spider-Man but Sony seems to believe they have everything they need now and can do it on their own. I fear that Sony and Spider-Man fans will rue this day. In part, Sony already is. Sony’s stock price dropped yesterday after word got out that Disney and Sony would not be collaborating on Sony’s number one moneymaking film franchise.

Jon Watts, who directed Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, might not be directing the next Spider-Man film. He apparently is not under contract for the next film. If Watts walks few would blame him. Without Feige, Marvel, and the influence, experience, and insight that they bring to superhero film projects, it wouldn’t be the same film-making experience for Watts.

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