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Bob Iger is back – to put Disney once again on track
by Luca Fontana
Spider-Man: 20 years of arm wrestling
1.10.2019
Translation: machine translated
Spider-Man seemed to have already left the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Sony and Disney have managed to agree on a cooperation. The fact is that the battle over the rights to the character has been going on for 20 years.
Spider-Man will still return to the Marvel fold, as US trade magazine Variety explained last Friday night. And this despite the fact that just a month earlier, Marvel owner Disney and Sony had been unable to agree on the terms of a joint continuation of the franchise.
Spider-Man seemed to have left the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but things have taken a turn for the better for fans. It has to be said that a communications disaster was on the horizon. Firstly, because "Far From Home" ended with a twist that inevitably called for a sequel. And above all because Tom Holland's Spider-Man is considered to be the best flesh-and-blood incarnation we've seen in cinema to date.
Many fans may not know it, but the tug-of-war over Spider-Man began well over 20 years ago. It's a story worth telling.
Marvel loses film rights to Spider-Man
The theatrical successes of the franchises sold, "X-Men" and "Spider-Man" in particular, are keeping Marvel just afloat. Indeed, the comic book specialist is hardly benefiting from this influx of capital. "We sold off the majority of our business," laments Avi Arad, then CEO of Marvel Films.
The turning point came just ten years later: Marvel had returned to financial health, rebranded Marvel Films as Marvel Studios with Kevin Feige at the helm and began producing films itself. In 2008, the studio launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a second group of less popular superheroes. "Iron Man, Thor and Captain America led the way. "The Incredible Hulk" even gets a film just for him thanks to a special deal with Universal.
Disney enters the scene. In 2009, the American group bought Marvel - and therefore Marvel Studios - for the sum of 4.24 billion dollars. A straw. Released in 2012, "The Avengers" is the first film produced and distributed by Marvel Studios entirely under the Disney umbrella.
.
It generated $1.518 billion.
Spider-Man tentatively returns to Marvel
After the highly successful trilogy directed by Sam Raimi, the friendly neighbourhood spider is getting his paws caught in the web, at least at the cinema.
Sony has no choice but to agree.
A deal has been struck to breathe new life into Spider-Man on the big screen. Marvel Studios is "lending" director Kevin Feige, the brains behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to Sony to produce two films starring Spider-Man, "Homecoming" and "Far From Home", which belong in the Marvel Universe.
Sony is underwriting the production costs. Disney retains the rights to derivative products and the corresponding revenues, as well as 5% of box-office receipts. Sony retains the remaining 95% plus film rights. Spider-Man will also be able to appear in three films produced by Marvel Studios: "Civil War", "Infinity War" and "Endgame".
Spider-Man is therefore officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, Disney is certain of this: Spider-Man would not have been such a success without the talent of its producer Kevin Feige. It would therefore be perfectly justified for the group to receive a larger share of the profits. Sony objected. Conflict broke out. The collaboration breaks down immediately.
Spider-Man is excluded from Marvel's cinematic universe.
A conflict that fools no one
"We're disappointed, but we respect Disney's decision," a Sony official tells US trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter in August 2019.
According to sources, Disney wants to amend the expiring contract so that in future revenues and production costs are evenly split. In addition, Disney wants to extend the contract to other Spider-Man-related characters, including Venom.
Sony is aware of this.
"Homecoming": a final opus?
On 5 September 2019, Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciguerra described the relationship between his company and Disney this way: "The doors are closed... for now."
Vinciguerra comes across as a tough negotiator, but there is a hint of hope. Two weeks earlier, a Sony press release suggested that negotiations had also broken down because Kevin Feige was too busy to shoot one more Spider-Man for Sony. Is Vinciguerra aware of the Star Wars dealings between Feige and LucasFilm head Kathleen Kennedy?
Some believe that Disney and Sony want to use the final two films to honour the character's departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with dignity. It seems more likely that Sony and Disney simply wanted to buy time to agree on a new, longer-term deal.
The second "Homecoming" seems perfect for that purpose. The 20-year tug-of-war is over. For now.
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
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