Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox now allows Marvel full access to the X-Men movie franchise and other related properties, including Fantastic Four, to add to their shared universe. Sony, on the other hand, retains rights to the Spider-Man brand which requires the two studios to cooperate for Spidey to exist in the MCU. Unfortunately, it sounds like Sony and Marvel are having disagreements over Spider-Man 4.
The studios have worked together to not only create the trilogy that includes Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, but they had a deal which allowed Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, to appear in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
Sony and Marvel worked out an additional deal for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker to appear in other upcoming MCU projects. One of these is the tentatively-titled film Spider-Man 4 which will follow the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. According to a new rumor, however, the two studios aren’t getting along.
This isn’t the first time that Sony and Marvel have faced a difficult situation together. In fact, it once looked unlikely that Spider-Man: No Way Home would ever come together due to such issues. Only through the persistence of star Tom Holland and the character’s many fans did they finally work things out to make a new deal.
Now, while things aren’t that bad at the moment, it does look like Spider-Man 4 is stuck in a tough situation. According to Daniel Richtman, Sony wants Spider-Man 4 to be another movie with the same scope as Spider-Man: No Way Home, with multiple major characters involved. These characters, Richtman reveals, could once again even be Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man.
The two characters exist in separate continuities and, as fans know, were brought back for No Way Home. The film later concluded their respective arcs before sending them back to their own timelines. Nevertheless, the doorway is no doubt open for their return. As for Marvel, however, they have different plans in mind.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and franchise star Tom Holland both want a more grounded fourth film. This would no doubt fit in better with some of the directions that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is taking. Additionally, it would allow for more variation than simply relying on another Multiverse-themed entry.
Sony reportedly wants #SpiderMan4 to be a huge movie and have considered bringing back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield
Tom Holland and Kevin Feige want a more grounded film
(@DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/hkysHQ3nFa
— Geek Vibes Nation (@GeekVibesNation) January 25, 2024
Of course, this information should still be taken with a grain of salt at this time. Though we do know Marvel and Sony have had their differences in the past, so it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Nevertheless, hopefully Sony and Marvel manage to figure out the best story for Spider-Man 4, and we’ll hopefully have more official details soon.