Marvel and Sony Team Up for Next Spider-Man Movie

As someone who cared so little about the most recent Amazing Spider-Man movie that I haven’t even seen it yet, I have mixed feelings about the news that Sony Pictures (who has the wall-crawler’s movie rights) will be teaming up with Marvel Studios on the next film.

I do want the character to be a success, because I like fun superhero movies, and Spider-Man is the poster child for wisecracking. I hope that they don’t feel the need to make yet another origin story, though. And I will miss Andrew Garfield, who seemed to have a great handle on the character, but at 31, he’s considered too old. (I’ll miss Emma Stone even more.) One of Marvel’s biggest strengths has been its cross-continuity, and this decision expands the Cinematic Universe in a significant way.

Spider-Man will be appearing in a Marvel movie before a new film comes from Sony on July 28, 2017. (Moviemaking: they have a release date but no star, script, or creative staff.) The “new creative direction” will be produced by Marvel’s Kevin Feige (who’s been the guiding force behind Marvel’s current successful slate) and Amy Pascal (former head of Sony Pictures who recently left). Thankfully, Avi Arad is gone, bumped upstairs to executive producer.

The Spider-Man movie means future Marvel films will be shifted back in a domino effect:

The two Avengers: Infinity War movies will keep their May dates in 2018 and 2019.