Yes, you read that right. Just imagine it: Spider-Man interacting with the Avengers or other Marvel characters on the big screen.
Until now, the very thought has been impossible, nothing but a pipe dream. Sony owns the movie rights to Spider-Man, Fox owns the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four, and Marvel retains the rights to pretty much everything else. Rumor has it that Fox and Marvel aren't getting along very well these days, but the relationship between Marvel and Sony is strong, and getting stronger every day.
HitFix is reporting an (admittedly unverified) rumor that Sony has reached out to Marvel about the notion of joining forces. It's easy to see why: Sony's Spider-Man franchise has been floundering a bit of late. It's an odd thing to say about a franchise whose most recent entry earned over $700 million at the global box office. But The Amazing Spider-Man 2 received mediocre reviews and a chilly reception from fans. Sony is hoping to launch its own interconnecting series of films and spinoffs, much like Marvel itself, so they have nothing to lose by teaming up.
Then there's Avi Arad, who produced the first few Marvel Studios films, and who's been involved in Marvel-based movies at both Fox and Sony since the very start. Arad still has strong ties to Marvel, so it's not hard to imagine him calling up his old friends for a chat over coffee.
Will anything come of it? There's no way to know just yet. An awful lot of logistics and financials and whatnot would have to be worked out. But in the comics, Spider-Man is an Avenger these days. The thought of Andrew Garfield standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans is just too tantalizing to ignore. And then there are all of Sony's plans for expansion, with Sinister Six and Venom films on the way, which could also take advantage of the wider Marvel universe.
Here's hoping they work it out.
