Spider-Man 4, 5 & 6: Marvel/Sony Deal Impact & Spider-Man Universe Future

An unprecedented deal between Marvel and Sony Pictures brought Spider-Man into the MCU, and now Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has a future in the MCU beyond Spider-Man: No Way Home, starting with Spider-Man 4. Sony’s attempt to build a Spider-Man universe hit something of a dead end in 2014, with The Amazing Spider-Man 2 disappointing at the box office while receiving poor critical reviews. Marvel Studios approached Sony with an offer to effectively share the character, resulting in Spider-Man becoming a beloved part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Tom Holland playing the latest incarnation of Peter Parker.

Unsurprisingly, there have been some bumps in the road since the signing of the original deal between Marvel and Sony. The relationship between the two studios actually fell through in 2019, to the horror of fans. It took the personal intervention of Holland himself to bring the studios back together, and since then things have seemed a lot more amicable. Another agreement between the two means it’s only a matter of time before Sony’s Spider-Man movies actually appear on Disney+, while Marvel recently announced an animated Spider-Man TV series that will tell the as-yet-unrevealed origin story of the MCU’s Spider-Man.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has long seemed positive about the prospect of the Marvel/Sony deal continuing. “I don’t anticipate us going through that emotional rollercoaster, or putting fans through that emotional rollercoaster, again,” he observed back in October 2019. Given Feige’s remark, it wasn’t especially surprising when film producer Amy Pascal confirmed Spider-Man 4, 5 and 6 are in the works. But what are the terms of the extension to this agreement, and what does it mean for Spider-Man’s future?

Marvel & Sony’s Spider-Man Deal Explained

The original deal between Marvel and Sony covered five films. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, and then swung his way through a series of popular and well-received blockbusters; Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Under that original agreement, Marvel produced the solo Spider-Man films on behalf of Sony, with Sony receiving the profits—and Marvel able to use Spider-Man in their ensemble films in return. When the deal was extended in 2019, it covered just two new films: Spider-Man: No Way Home and a still-unknown mystery Marvel movie. The terms of the agreement reportedly changed a little, with Disney receiving 25% of the profits from Spider-Man: No Way Home but paying roughly a quarter of production costs as well.

An oblique comment from Feige back in 2019 appeared to suggest Sony now had an ability to integrate Tom Holland’s Spider-Man into their own Spider-Man spinoffs. “[Spider-Man] also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes,” Feige observed in an official statement. “So as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.” Venom: Let There Be Carnage‘s post-credits scene appeared to set this up, and it’s surely no coincidence Spider-Man: No Way Home is a multiversal story. More recently, Sony renamed their spinoffs “Sony’s Spider-Man Universe,” widely regarded as a first hint the two studios had extended their deal and Holland’s Spider-Man would be web-slinging into films a little more removed from the mainstream MCU.

What Spider-Man 4, 5 & 6 Means For The Marvel/Sony Deal

Amy Pascal’s recent statements confirm Sony and Marvel have indeed extended their agreement, meaning there will be a new trilogy starring Tom Holland. The first trilogy focused on Peter Parker’s life at high school, but he’s a senior by the time of Spider-Man: No Way Home and it’s likely the next trilogy will be set during his time at college. This naturally means the supporting cast may be switched up, although likely according to the same formula. Marvel Comics are particularly enamored with an idea called the “Illusion of Change,” pioneered by Stan Lee himself, and Spider-Man’s move from high school to college is probably the best example. As comic book writer Peter David explained in Comic Buyer’s Guide #1285, “Peter went from high school to college, but he was still a student. Betty Brant and Liz Allen gave way to Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, and nemesis Flash Thompson stepped aside for nemesis Harry Osborn… It was evolution, but 360 degrees’ worth. Same old Spider-Man, same old Peter Parker, same old problems at the core.“

Pascal has not, however, indicated whether Marvel will be able to use Spider-Man in more of their own films under the terms of the revised deal. Still, given the sharing of Spider-Man lies at the heart of this, it’s reasonable to assume Marvel will also have the ability to use Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in three more MCU movies—in addition to the mystery one negotiated back in 2019. This fits with an interesting remark from Avengers: Endgame co-director Joe Russo; “Tom [Holland] is stepping into the role that Robert Downey once occupied for Marvel, which is the favorite character, and in a lot of ways the soul of the Marvel universe,” he observed, illustrating just how important Spider-Man has become to the MCU’s ongoing narrative.

What Spider-Man 4, 5 & 6 Means For Venom & Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

It’s difficult to predict the implications of this new deal on Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Building on Feige’s comments back in 2019, Sony exec Sanford Panitch recently noted that “there actually is a plan” to cross Spider-Man and their spinoffs. “I think now maybe it’s getting a little more clear for people where we’re headed and I think when No Way Home comes out, even more will be revealed,” he observed. This seems like a pretty clear nod to the multiversal possibilities raised by Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Venom: Let There Be Carnage confirming Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is part of the same wider multiverse as the MCU.

The pieces are certainly falling into place for Spider-Man to appear in these Sony films, and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter may be key. Writer Richard Wenk has already indicating his preference for adapting the popular “Kraven’s Last Hunt” storyline, in which Kraven hunted down and replaced Spider-Man. If everything goes as Sony planned, that hope could well become a reality, with one of the most popular Spider-Man comic book stories of all time adapted for the big screen.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4894 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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