Spider-Man fans have been slung all over the place as negotions to keep the web-slinger in the MCU heated up and then broke down. Now, as Apple is considering buying Sony Pictures, Disney is waiting in anticipation as the they could end up regaining the rights to Spider-Man for free.
If and when Sony winds up in a merger with a company like Netflix, Amazon, or Apple, the Spider-Man IP will revert back to Marvel — and it’s unlikely anyone currently involved with the IP at Sony will get a dime when that happens, according to Forbes.
According to a report by Cosmic Book News, an investor analyst just recently claimed that Apple may be out for a major acquisition, and Sony has been listed as a potential candidate along with studios like A24, Lionsgate, Viacom/CBS, MGM, and Netflix.
In early September, Sony CEO Tony Vinciquerra firmly stated that Sony Studios is “not for sale,” despite regular press coverage to the contrary, but things can change and money talks.
The Sony boss also discussed the studio’s decision to stay out of the streaming wars thus far in terms of the general market, a decision which he said allows Sony to be “more transparent” with its creators by not becoming “beholden to any platform.”
Amazon is also said to be considering purchasing Sony Pictures as well. The reason why both companies are suddenly interested is because they both have, or are working on, streaming sites, but neither has their own theatrical production or distribution model.