The Sony hacks have been a dream come true for nerd enthusiasts the world over, and they just keep on giving (…well it is Christmas). Now The Latino Review has provided further information on the possibility of Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures agreeing to a rights-sharing deal – and they’ve got to the bottom of what has prevented it from happening thus far.
The deal between the two studios was said to have been a 60/40 sharing-rights to the character, with Marvel wanting complete creative control, enabling them to start of their own Spidey franchise from a clean slate. Ultimately Marvel don’t want anything to do with Andrew Garfield or Mark Webb’s The Amazing Spiderman series, as they want to create their own version from scratch (which makes sense right? …who better that the creators of the character themselves to finally get it right).
A clean slate would mean casting a new Peter Parker – however, this has been one of the main reasons for Sony Entertainment’s head-honchoAmy Pascal holding out – as she likes to stand by her talent (kudos to Pascal in that regard, as loyalty seems like a rare commodity in Holywood). Furthermore, Marvel Studios would also shelve any planned spin-off movies that Sony were intending to push through to development, like the proposed Aunt May solo movie, and the all-girl-Spider-Man (huh?) franchise.
It seems that Marvel just want to distance themselves from any of the Spider-Man films that came before, and this includes Sam Raimi’s trilogy too; which is understandable considering the confusion it would cause to have Andrew Garfield’s Spidey popping up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all of a sudden. It is an established universe, and everything that is a part of it, has been born into it from an embryonic state. Therefore, they have their own ideas in mind as to what will make a good Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the MCU, and this includes focussing less on his origin story (thank god… one was enough…), and cutting back on the romance-driven aspect of the last two instalments. Thusly, Marvel want to establish a teenage Peter Parker who is already vested in the superhero role; with the romance aspects and the balancing of his split duties as a superhero and teenager being a subplot at most.
Many fans would liked to have seen Spider-Man make an appearance in Captain America: Civil War as he plays a big part in the comic book chapter – switching from Tony Stark’s side over to Captain America’s (unmasking himself and revealing his identity in front of TV cameras in the midst of changing allegiance). However, further reports have stated that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s script is “nailed down” now, but if there is any hope and Sony do come around to a deal after their Sony Spider-Man Summit (when studio executives will get together to discuss the fate of their waning franchise), there might be time for Marvel to play around with the script a little to make way for a cameo of some sort (here’s hoping peeps!).
This is where things become slightly more interesting. Other reports from Overtice – a Brazilian Web site, has reported an ongoing conversation between The Winter Soldier directors, Joe and Anthony Russo and Sony’s Amy Pascal, with the brothers offering to produce future instalments of the web-slinger’s adventures with their new production company, Bullit. The duo also expressed their disappointment about the failed negotiations that Marvel had with Sony to acquire Spider-Man in time to include him Captain America: Civil War, which the brothers are directing. In their email to Pascal, they stated that it was “a pity that negotiations with Marvel did not work”
It looks like the Russo Bros are really keen to be part of the Spider-Man franchise, so wouldn’t it just make far more sense if the brothers to utilise the character over at Marvel, if and when Sony agree to some sort of sharing-rights deal (to take a quote from one of the greats: “the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows). With the confirmation that they boys are stepping up to the plate to direct the two-part Avengers 3 behemoth based around Infinity Wars (Joss Whedon, who is stepping away from the directors chair after Avengers: Age of Ultron), it would just make sense. Either way, it seems that Jay and Anthony Russo could do the Spiderman character justice with a big screen adaptation as they done a stellar job in directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and they could apply the knowledge they will acquire directing Civil War and Infinity Wars towards the titular character’s next big screen adventure.
It’s worth noting that since Sony shutdown their servers and went into backup mode (figuratively of course), Pascal has not replied to emails about the possibility of the Russo Bros producing future Spider-Man films! Who knows, maybe this will be discussed at the Sony Spider-Man Summit, as they will have to come up with something (…and it better not be another reboot).
Would you be happy if the Russo Bros stepped in to produce? Or do you just want to see Spidey return back to Marvel? Let us know your what you think!
Captain America: Civil War opens May 6, 2016.
Source: ComicBook.com, CinemaBlend
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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