Spider-Man, the popular
web-slinging superhero currently played by actor Tom Holland,
will headline a new movie in 2021 and appear in a future Marvel
Studios film under a deal announced Friday by Sony Corp
and Walt Disney Co.
The agreement between the Hollywood studios was welcome news
to fans who had feared that a corporate dispute would keep
Spider-Man out of the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe
(MCU).
"I am thrilled that Spidey's journey in the MCU will
continue", Feige said in a statement.
In August, Disney-owned Marvel Studios and Sony's Sony
Pictures were at an impasse over Spider-Man's future. Sony owns
the rights to the Marvel character under a long-standing
arrangement, while Disney controls others such as Iron Man, the
Hulk, Captain Marvel and Black Panther.
The news about the breakup had disappointed fans, who took
to Twitter to start a campaign with hashtags "#SaveSpiderMan"
and "#SaveSpidey".
Under the new deal, Marvel Studios and its president, Kevin
Feige, will produce a third film starring Holland that will be
released on July 16, 2021, a statement from the companies said.
Amy Pascal also will be a producer.
The two Hollywood giants agreed in 2015 to work together on films featuring the web-slinging superhero after several of Sony’s Spider-Man films underperformed. The first feature in their collaboration, 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” captured $880 million in ticket sales worldwide, the best performance of the franchise up until then. The most recent film in the series, June release
"Spider-Man: Far From Home," ranks as Sony Pictures'
highest-grossing film, fetching $1.11 billion (R15.15 billion) at global box
offices.
Spider-Man also will appear in a future Marvel Studios film,
the companies said.