For a few weeks, Spider-Man was out of the MCU last summer. Disney and Sony couldn’t come to terms after Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s blockbuster success. However, the studios eventually reconciled and signed a new deal to finish the current Spider-Man trilogy and put Peter Parker in at least one more MCU film. Recently, Disney CCO Alan Horn and Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman appeared together for The Hollywood Reporter‘s executive roundtable. Naturally, THR couldn’t resist asking what allowed them to strike a new custody sharing agreement for Spider-Man.
“The fan base, which is important to all of us, seemed to really respond to what Tom and his folks have done before with our people,” noted Horn. “They like the fact that the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Kevin Feige were involved [in the two Spider-Man films]. We heard feedback out there that suggested that joining forces once again was probably really a good idea.”
However, Rothman shared his belief that the news coverage affected the two studios’ ability to make a deal.
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“The only thing I would say is that news cycles and the rhythm of negotiations do not necessarily overlap,” said Rothman. “And this is, in the words of Shakespeare, a consummation devoutly to be wished. We would have gotten there, and the news got ahead of some things.”
Horn added that he agrees with Rothman’s assessment. But they seemed to overlook the fact that the pressure from the fanbase to keep Spidey in the MCU wouldn’t have happened without the media coverage. Tom Holland, the MCU’s Spider-Man, also played a large role in bringing the two sides back together.
Regardless of the studio bickering, Rothman called the new deal “a classic win-win-win. A win for Sony, a win for Disney, a win for the fans.”
Spider-Man’s next MCU movie will hit theaters on July 16, 2021.
Do you agree with Rothman and Horn that the media coverage was to blame for keeping the two studios apart? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Spider-Man: Far From Home – The Art of the Movie
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