Sony has done quite well for themselves with the first two installments ofThe Amazing Spider-Man, each of which took in well over $700 million worldwide, but it was the appearance ofTom Holland’stake on the character in Disney/Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil Warthat has inspired the enthusiasm and excitement of Spider-fans around the world. Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s motion picture groupTom Rothmanis well aware of this cultural effect, which is why the studio plans to expand Spider-Man’s movie-verse while keeping lines of communication open with Marvel.
In a chat withTHRabout everything on Sony’s slate, from the specificGhostbusters"controversy" that is actually doing the movie’s marketing for them, to the more wide-ranging global strategy the studio is employing, Rothman also made time to mention plans for Spider-Man going forward. Take a look at what he had to say.
If you were hoping that Disney/Marvel and Sony would continue to collaborate in the future after the successful introduction of their shared Spider-Man, you’re in luck:
Since you teamed with Marvel, do you plan to make a wholeSpider-Manuniverse? Do you have plans for more work with Marvel?
Yes to both those questions. It’s been fantastic, our relationship with Marvel.
While not unprecedented in Hollywood, this kind of property sharing between major studios over hugely lucrative properties is far from common. However, if the parties are also able to agree on just what controls each of them have, things can go relatively smoothly. Rothman cleared up those responsibilities as follows:
Who has greenlight authority?
Sony has the ultimate authority. But we have deferred the creative lead to Marvel, because they know what they’re doing. We start shooting the newSpider-Manin Atlanta [in mid-June].
While lots of focus and media attention comes from box office performance, an equal amount of pressure is applied on a film’s front-loaded budgetary side. Rothman has a great answer to the question of whether or not he’s looking to cut costs when it comes toSpider-Man:
I don’t want to trim costs. I want to make money. And sometimes you make money by trimming costs and sometimes by investing in things that are profitable. A movie likeSpider-Manby Marvel, that’s not inexpensive. But it’s a great investment. Knowing that Marvel has such a clear, creative vision, I sleep very well at night.
Rothman also addressed the studio’s upcoming animation plans, focusing a portion of the conversation on the animated Spider-Man movie:
[W]e have dated Christmas 2018 for what I believe is truly going to be a breakthrough animated sensation. Lord and Miller, who did theLegomovies, are doing an animatedSpider-Man. And it has a very breakthrough look to it, and a fantastic story, and it’s independent from our MarvelSpider-Man.
While it sounds likeSpider-Manis in good hands with Rothman, Sony and Marvel, we’ll find out for sure when the new featureSpider-Man: Homecominghits theaters June 29, 2025. That film just addedFargoactorBokeem Woodbinein an undisclosed role that’s rumored to be on the villainous side. This casting addition was first reported byComicbook.com, who found the following tweet from Atlanta’s TV personalitySytonnia Moore:
For more onSpider-Man: Homecoming, be sure to get caught up with some recent news below:
