From Variety:
Several insiders said Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman was willing to give up as much as roughly 25% of the franchise and welcome Disney in as a co-financing partner in exchange for Feige’s services. When Marvel took on producing duties on “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2015, Disney negotiated for a percentage of first-dollar gross and licensing rights for consumer goods. While Spider-Man may never again appear in a Marvel Studios-produced film, the character will still be found roaming Disney theme parks taking photos with families and emblazoned on merchandise in gift shops.
To say Feige is essential to the future success and profitability of the Walt Disney Company is an understatement. He is an asset that Disney has become unwilling to share with a rival studio, even at the expense of millions of moviegoers who prize Spider-Man as a member of the MCU. Trending topics like #SaveSpiderManFromSony overtook Twitter. Marvel founder Stan Lee’s daughter J.C. Lee backed Sony, saying her father’s creations need multiple points of view, going as far as to say “no one treated my father worse than Marvel and Disney’s executives.”
What do you think about these new details? Does it sway your opinion either way?
After the jaw dropping bombshell that was released yesterday when news broke that Sony and Marvel where unable to renegotiate terms in order to keep Spider-Man, starring Tom Holland, in the MCU, outrage hit social media and comment sections everywhere. We weren’t given many details till today where it looks like Sony is laying the blame on the House of Mouse. Sony Pictures is committing to continuing the Spider-Man franchise without Marvel Studios’ involvement, but that is the fault of Disney for cutting short a lucrative deal, according to the studio’s response.
In a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter by a Sony spokesperson, Sony says it is “disappointed” that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige would no longer be acting as lead creative producer on its Spider-Man film franchise, firmly laying the blame on Disney.
Much of today’s news about Spider-Man has mischaracterized recent discussions about Kevin Feige’s involvement in the franchise. We are disappointed, but respect Disney’s decision not to have him continue as a lead producer of our next live-action Spider-Man film.
We hope this might change in the future, but understand that the many new responsibilities that Disney has given him — including all their newly added Marvel properties — do not allow time for him to work on IP they do not own. Kevin is terrific and we are grateful for his help and guidance and appreciate the path he has helped put us on, which we will continue.
Sony also released the statement on their Twitter account, which may suggests that the studio is in crisis management as the public opinion seems to be putting all the blame on Sony. Could the news from yesterday simply have been a leak from Disney to force Sony’s hand? Does any of this change your opinion on the handling of this situation?
