Movies

Spider-Man to Stay in MCU: Fox & Sony Reach an Agreement

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After a brief break up, #SonyPictures and #Marvel have found a way to get back in the #SpiderMan business together and keep him in the #MCU. On Friday, the two companies jointly announced that #MarvelStudios and its president, Kevin Feige, will produce the 3rd film in the “Spider-Man: #Homecoming” series and that it will once again feature Tom Holland reprising his role as the titular hero.

The rumor mill had roared back to life this week with hints that the two companies were close to brokering a new agreement, which was signed late on Thursday night.

The negotiations included top players from both studios, including Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman, Feige and #WaltDisneyStudios co-chairs Alan Horn and Alan Bergman. In exchange for lending Feige’s producing prowess, Marvel and #Disney will receive roughly 25% of the profits, according to insiders. Disney will retain its merchandising rights and will put up roughly a quarter of the financing. As part of the arrangement, Spider-Man will also appear in one future Marvel Studios film.

The next MCU Spider-Man film is slated to be released on July 16, 2021.

In a statement, Feige said,

“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. 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.”

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MCU to Lose Spider-Man over Sony/Disney Profit Sharing Kerfuffle, Ending 2015 Partnership

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A 2015 agreement between #Sony Pictures Entertainment and #MarvelComics (under the ownership of Disney) has permitted Marvel to be able to have the character #SpiderMan appear in multiple MCU movies to joy of many fans. That agreement now appears to be in jeopardy after Sony walked away from talks with Disney after Disney wanted to change the profit-sharing split to a 50/50 split on future film profits, as well as continued access to Kevin Feige, who has produced some of the MCU’s most profitable films.

According to Deadline’s Mike Fleming, Jr.:

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige won’t produce any further Spider-Man films because of an inability by Disney and Sony Pictures to reach new terms that would have given the former a co-financing stake going forward. Disney asked that future Spider-Man films be a 50/50 co-financing arrangement between the studios, and there were discussions that this might extend to other films in the Spider-Man universe. Sony turned that offer down flat, and I don’t believe they even came back to the table to figure out a compromise.

With Sony walking away, they’re taking the rights to use Spider-Man with them. This now means that future MCU movies probably won’t have the web-slinger again, even though he appeared in several very profitable MCU films:

The agreement also allowed Kevin Feige’s involvement in the two most recent standalone Spider-Man films, which also performed very well at the box office:

  • “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, which earned $880,166,924 worldwide
  • “Spider-Man: Far from Home”, which earned $1,110,682,751 worldwide making it Sony’s highest grossing film ever.

Together, these 5 films earned have earned $7,988,469,578 worldwide, which is $4-billion more than the worldwide combined earnings for the 5 Sony-only Spider-Man films that preceded them: $3,963,259,504 (“Spider-Man”, “Spider-Man 2”, “Spider-Man 3”, “The Amazing Spider-Man” & “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”).

Naturally, fans aren’t happy about the loss of Spider-Man in the MCU, but the only players who can do anything about it are Sony and Disney. Actor Tom Holland is also apparently not happy about the split.

Robert Downy, Jr. & Tom Holland

Robert Downy, Jr. & Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”

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“Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker” Reshoots

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#Wired magazine is reporting from reliable sources that some reshoots are being filmed for “#StarWars IX: #TheRiseOfSkywalker”. Two sources are reporting that “Black Park” in the UK has been closed off for either reshoots or pickups, with an X-wing fighter being part of the additional shots. It’s also possible that the shoot may go into September, which won’t leave a lot of time for the film’s December release.

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New “Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker” Images Released in “Vanity Fair”

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#VanityFair magazine was shared new images from the upcoming “#StarWars IX: #TheRiseOfSkywalker” movie, which include reveals of some of the film’s new characters.

J.J. Abrams, alongside Stunt Coordinator Eunice Huthart, directs the Knights of Ren; elite fearsome enforcers of Kylo Ren’s dark will.
Keri Russell as the masked scoundrel Zorri Bliss, seen in the Thieves’ Quarter of the snow-dusted world Kijimi.
First Order leaders General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and Allegiant General Pryde (Richard E. Grant) on the bridge of Kylo Ren’s destroyer.
Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Ridley, Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), and John Boyega (Finn) await the call to action for a chase scene.
Members of the crew shade and shine Daniels, the only cast member to appear in all nine of the Skywalker films, while BB-8 looks on.
Camera operator Colin Anderson readies a take for a chase sequence spotlighting the heroics of Chewbacca, BB-8, and Rey.
In a historic reunion, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) retakes the helm of the Millennium Falcon, joined by Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca, D-O, and BB-8. “He’s a survivor,” Williams says of Lando.
Jordanian locals play the Aki-Aki, natives of the planet Pasaana.
Mark Hamill, as Luke, with R2-D2. Speculation is rampant about who will “rise” as the Skywalker of the movie’s title—and how that choice will reflect the way the world has changed since Star Wars debuted in 1977.
Director J. J. Abrams sets up a shot of Daisy Ridley (Rey) in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert, the setting for the planet Pasaana. In the desert, says Abrams, “there’s something about the way the sand interacts with the light.”

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And the Next Batman Is… Robert Pattinson

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#Variety is reporting that actor Robert Pattinson is in negotiations to play the titular role in Matt Reeves’ forthcoming superhero film #TheBatman, which is slated to hit theaters on June 25, 2021. While sources say it’s not yet a done deal, Pattinson is the top choice and it’s expected to close shortly.

Matt Reeves (the filmmaker behind the last two #PlanetOfTheApes sequels) assumed the directing duties from Ben Affleck for #Batman in January 2017. Ben Affleck and Warner Bros. began discussing the actor-director leaving the Caped Crusader behind following #JusticeLeague and allowing Reeves to pick his own actor to play Bruce Wayne. Reeves will produce “The Batman” with his “Planet of the Apes” collaborator Dylan Clark.

At 32, Pattinson would be the youngest actor to play Bruce Wayne / Batman. He formerly played Cedric Diggory in the fourth #HarryPotter film (“The Goblet of Fire”), as well as the heartthrob character of Edward Cullen in the #Twilight film series.

Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson

Warner Brothers is hoping that the latest iteration of the DC icon will be done right following the box office disappointments of #BatmanVsSuperman and “Justice League.”

  • “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” earned $330-million domestically and $543-million internationally to garner a total box office of $874-million worldwide from a budget of $250-million.
  • “Justice League” faired worse, earning only $229-million domestically and $429-million internationally for a a total box office of $658-million worldwide. The film’s budget was not reported.

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