Spider-Man swings into Marvel/Disney

BRIANNA HARRINGTON
BUSINESS EDITOR
@BNH1995

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Spider-Man will finally be making his way back into the Marvel fold. Sony announced that they would be collaborating with Marvel/Disney on the $4 billion franchise that is Spider-Man.

An article by the San Diego Union-Tribune said that though the characters have interacted in Marvel’s comic books for decades, they’ve been segregated in the movies because of various licensing agreements that predated the explosion of superhero movies.

This news is huge because the collaboration increases the likelihood Spider-Man will appear in future Avenger movies, expanding the franchise even more.

However, before Spider-Man debuts in films with other Marvel characters, his own storyline will be written again.

Sony and Marvel/Disney will be collaborating to bring to life a new storyline for Spider-Man; this will be the third reboot for the franchise.

Sophomore Praveen Wickremasinghe, although not a long-time follower of the comics, is excited about this news.
“I think this will please both the disappointed fans of the ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ and the fans who liked it,” Wickremasinghe said. “The Marvel Comic Universe is now bigger and that opens the gateway to more stories and adventures that can be told. I’m excited to see the interaction between Spider-Man and the current cast of the Marvel Comic Universe.”

The partnership has had some effects on the rest of Marvel’s movies.

Many of their new releases, including “Thor: Ragnarok”, have been delayed. Some have been delayed by only a few months, but others will not be coming to the big screen until 2018 or 2019 now.

Bob Iger, Walt Disney Studios chairman and CEO, said, “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.” Iger said.
However, there were some guidelines to the partnership.

Sony will maintain the financing, distribution, ownership, and final creative control of the Spider-Man films.
This means that Sony stands to benefit because they will have a well-respected name helping with the Spider-Man storyline and possibly more plotlines with other characters to work with, but they will still have ownership of the franchise.