Tom Holland has quickly become one of the most popular actors in Hollywood thanks to his portrayal of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After three solo Spider-Man films and appearances in three Avengers movies, Holland’s future as the web-slinging superhero has been called into question following disputes between Sony Pictures and Disney/Marvel Studios.
What is Tom Holland’s contract status as Spider-Man?
Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War before going on to star in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. It was originally reported that Holland had a six-picture deal with Marvel Studios to appear as Spider-Man. If accurate, that would mean he has one appearance left on his contract after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and Far From Home.
However, the terms of Holland’s contract were called into question in August 2019 when it was reported that negotiations between Disney/Marvel and Sony had broken down. This cast doubt on the future of Holland’s Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. As a result, details of Holland’s contract status remain uncertain.
Why did negotiations between Disney/Marvel and Sony break down?
In August 2019, it was reported that Disney and Sony were unable to reach new terms for a co-financing stake in future Spider-Man films. Since Sony owns the film rights to Spider-Man while Disney owns Marvel Studios, the two companies had struck a deal to share the production costs and profits of solo Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland.
Under the original terms, Marvel Studios only received 5% of the profits while Sony paid for 100% of the production costs. Disney had sought to renegotiate the deal to a 50/50 co-financing arrangement going forward. When Sony refused, negotiations fell apart and the future of Spider-Man in the MCU was put into doubt.
What do actors and directors have to say about the situation?
The breakdown in negotiations was met with disappointment by many of those involved in the Spider-Man films, including Tom Holland and director Jon Watts. Holland in particular has been vocal about his desire to continue playing Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Basically, we’ve made five great movies,” Holland said. “It’s been five amazing years. I’ve had the time of my life. Who knows what the future holds? But all I know is that I’m going to continue playing Spider-Man and having the time of my life. It’s going to be so fun, however we choose to do it. The future for Spider-Man will be different, but it will be equally as awesome and amazing.”
Watts, who directed Homecoming and Far From Home, also expressed optimism that a deal would eventually be reached. “I know I’m gonna have a blast, no matter what,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I’d love to keep making Spider-Man movies. I’ve had such an amazing experience, and I’ve made two films that I’m extremely proud of. So if it’s time to say goodbye, then I’m proud of the work we did.”
Will Disney and Sony reach a new deal?
Despite the breakdown in negotiations, many industry insiders believed Disney and Sony would eventually resume discussions and reach a compromise. Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, wanted to keep Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU. And Sony was likely to face significant backlash from fans if they removed Spider-Man entirely from the incredibly popular Marvel franchise.
“Many have interpreted the Deadline article regarding our Spider-Man negotiations as meaning the end of our talks with Disney,” Sony said in a statement after the news broke. “That is misguided speculation; our door is still open.”
Sure enough, it was reported in September 2019 that Disney and Sony had come to terms on a new agreement allowing Spider-Man to appear in one future Marvel Studios film and paving the way for a third solo outing starring Tom Holland.
What will the new Disney/Sony deal look like?
The full terms of the new agreement were not disclosed publicly. However, it was reported that the co-financing arrangement moving forward would be roughly equal to the original deal, with Disney potentially earning a bit more than the 5% of first-dollar gross they originally received. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is expected to produce the next solo Spider-Man film for Sony.
“I am thrilled that Spidey’s journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it,” Feige said. “Spider-Man is a powerful icon and 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.”
Will there be a third Tom Holland Spider-Man solo movie?
Now that a new deal has been reached, the odds of a third Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland seem very likely. Holland reportedly has one film left on his Marvel contract, which would presumably be used for another solo outing. Previous reports indicated that Sony was hoping to release a third Spider-Man in July 2021, two years after Far From Home.
Director Jon Watts is also expected to return after helming the first two Holland films. “We definitely are going to use him again,” Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman told MTV News. “Now, that doesn’t mean that he won’t one day direct a movie for us. We have a good relationship with him, and I think he wants to do that.”
As for the villain or overall storyline of the untitled third film, that remains a mystery. But with the Crimson Cowl established in Far From Home’s post-credit scene, Kraven the Hunter rumored for years, and Holland expressing interest in facing-off against Venom, there are plenty of possibilities from Spider-Man’s rogues gallery.
Will Spider-Man continue appearing in MCU movies?
While Spider-Man is expected to receive another solo outing, his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe outside of those films is less certain. According to Variety, Disney’s new agreement with Sony only includes one additional Spider-Man movie, so any appearances in other MCU films would require further negotiations.
That throws into question whether Spider-Man could continue playing a key role alongside the other Avengers. It seems unlikely he would have prominent roles going forward in movies like Captain Marvel 2 or Avengers 5. However, it’s possible Holland’s Spider-Man could pop up briefly in future MCU films via cameos if additional deals are struck.
What does the new deal mean for Venom and other Sony Marvel movies?
Another interesting wrinkle is what impact Disney and Sony’s new Spider-Man agreement could have on other films featuring Marvel characters that Sony owns, such as Venom, Morbius, Black Cat and Silver Sable. Now that Spider-Man can cross between the MCU and Sony’s universe, it opens the door for those characters to potentially interact with Spider-Man and maybe even other Avengers someday.
“Spider-Man 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,” Feige hinted.
An eventual Spider-Man vs. Venom showdown seems inevitable, but it remains to be seen how closely Sony’s Marvel films will tie to the MCU. Don’t expect Iron Man to pop up in Morbius, but a Tom Holland Spider-Man cameo doesn’t seem out of the question someday.
Will other MCU characters show up in Sony’s Spider-Man movies?
Now that Spider-Man is confirmed to continue appearing in the MCU for at least one more solo film, it also raises questions about whether other Marvel characters could begin showing up in Sony’s Spider-Man movies. Previous MCU films featured supporting roles for Tony Stark/Iron Man, Nick Fury and Happy Hogan.
Given their close bonds with Spider-Man, it seems logical that characters like Zendaya’s MJ, Jacob Batalon’s Ned, Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May or Jon Favreau’s Happy could continue appearing in Sony’s solo Spidey films. We’ll have to wait for more details on the next Spider-Man movie to see if that ultimately comes to fruition.
What do fans have to say?
As expected, Spider-Man fans were devastated by the prospect of losing Holland’s version of the character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Social media erupted with sad and angry reactions in August 2019 after the original split between Sony and Disney was reported. fortunately, those feeling quickly turned to excitement when a new deal was announced just over a month later.
Here is just a small sample of fan reactions:
| When the news first broke | After the new deal was reached |
| “No Spider-Man in the MCU is a tragedy” | “Thank goodness they reached a deal!” |
| “My childhood is ruined!” | “Best news ever!” |
| “Sony, how could you do this??” | “Hallelujah, Spidey stays home!” |
It’s safe to say Spider-Man fans are breathing a big sigh of relief and can look forward to more of Tom Holland protecting the neighborhood in the MCU – at least for a little while longer.
Conclusion
While the dispute between Sony and Disney over Spider-Man sparked doomsday scenarios among fans, ultimately the two studios were able to reach a compromise that allows Holland’s Spider-Man to live on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new deal paves the way for a third solo Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland, keeping alive one of Hollywood’s most lucrative and fan-beloved franchises.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige appears particularly thrilled to have Spider-Man stick around a while longer, as the character has become an integral part of the MCU’s universe-hopping storytelling. Meanwhile, Sony remains happy as well, as they continue earning profits from one of their studio’s biggest properties while also being able to build out their own slate of Spider-Man-related films.
For now, celebrate Spidey saved. But don’t be surprised if tensions between the two studios flare up again down the road when the next round of negotiations commence for films after Spider-Man 3. Until then, look for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker to continue swinging through the MCU while also anchoring Sony’s own Spider-verse in the years ahead.
