"The Many Fates of Spider Man"
With Sony executives having gathered last month in London for their reported Spidey Summit to discuss a course of action on their recently maligned franchise, we the fans anxiously awaited any news of what the future may hold for our friendly neighborhood web head. Would rumors of Amazing Spider Man 3 casting extras in Atlanta see a continuation by Sony of Mark Webb's trilogy, keeping Andrew Garfield as the film's lead? Would Sony instead go with the rumored "soft reboot" of the franchise, discarding Garfield while recasting Spider Man to cameo in their upcoming Sinister Six movie? Would Sony finally succumb to fans clamoring for a shared deal with Marvel Studios to get Spidey swinging through the MCU? Well we finally have an answer on the future of Spider Man. Late last night Marvel released an announcement that they had reached an agreement with Sony to bring Spider Man into the MCU.
Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company 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 new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building."
"We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans."
"Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker's story into the future," added Doug Belgrad, president, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.
"I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie," said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. "Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel's involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years."
Here is my speculation (or hopes you could say) for “The Spectacular Spider Man” to appear in an after credit scene for Avengers: Age of Ultron (Peter at an Oscorp field trip being bitten by a spider). Spider Man will make an important cameo in Civil War where he is revealed to be a teenager. The Spectacular Spider Man solo films will premier in 2017 completely rebooting the franchise making all the Raimi and Webb films non-cannon.
Now that Sony made their announcement, we wait and speculate with Bruce the gargoyle on Parker's fate. I pray I will not be screaming like JJ when we find out more of what Marvel has in store.
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