Spider-Man is back in the Marvel Universe

After Walt Disney Studios’ and Sony Pictures’ brief split, the two studios have since found a way to get back into the Spider-Man business together. 

In late September, Disney and Sony renegotiated how they would share the Spider-Man intellectual property and reached a new agreement allowing Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to return again as co-producer for the third Marvel Spider-Man film. Tom Holland will also be returning as the iconic web-slinger. According to the new deal, Marvel and Disney will receive 25 percent of the profits in exchange for Feige producing this third project of the Spider-Man film series. Spider-Man will also appear in a future Marvel Studios project.

In an Oct. 4 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Tom Holland was the savior of Spider-Man’s future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Holland reached out to Iger and the CEO of Sony Pictures, Thomas Rothman, in an effort to help get both companies negotiating again.

“He basically ... cried on the phone," Iger joked. "No, not really, but it was clear that he cared so much, and we care a lot about him. And he's a great Spider-Man. I felt for him and it was clear that the fans wanted all this to happen."

Iger spoke with Disney team members before ultimately calling the head of Sony to try and stop their “Spider-Man standoff." He felt driven to end the debate by his respect for both Holland and for fans.

"Sometimes companies, when they're negotiating, or people when they're negotiating with one another, they kind of forget that there are other folks out there that actually matter," said Iger. "There's a whole Parker family out there (to think about)."

Holland is still contracted as the lead in two more Spider-Man films. After the recent agreement was made, Marvel Studios' Feige publicly spoke of his joy for the reunification.

“I am thrilled that Spidey’s journey in the MCU will continue," said Feige. "I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it. Spider-Man is a powerful icon and a hero whose story crosses all ages and audiences around the globe. He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.”

That being said, as Sony moves forward with their own Marvel Universe projects, with titles like "Venom 2" and "Sinister Six," Disney/Marvel also pursues their own direction. There could be a “call and answer” between the two franchises as they acknowledge details between the two paths in what would loosely be described as a shared detailed universe. The third Spider-Man film is scheduled for release on July 16, 2021. Welcome home, Spidey!