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Sony and Disney want Spider-Man to stay in the MCU for a long time to come

Tom Holland as Spider-Man
Tom Holland as Spider-Man

Sony film executive Tom Rothman and Disney co-chairman and chief creative officer Alan Horn are both hopeful that Spider-Man will continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the foreseeable future.

That didn’t look likely in the summer, when it was suddenly announced that, despite Tom Holland’s hugely popular performance as the superhero in the likes of Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Far From Home, Sony didn’t want Spider-Man to be in the MCU anymore.

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Thankfully, after some encouragement from Holland, Disney and Sony were able to work out their differences, and soon it was revealed that Spider-Man wasn’t going anywhere.

During a recent discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, both Rothman and Horn downplayed the divide between the studios, with the Sony head explaining, "News cycles and the rhythm of negotiations do not necessarily overlap.”

“I think that this is, in the words of Shakespeare, a consummation devoutly to be wished, and I think we would have gotten there. The news got ahead of some things."

President & COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Alan Horn arrives at "Celebrate Sundance Institute", the Sundance Institute's inaugural benefit in Beverly Hills, California June 8, 2011. REUTERS/Gus Ruelas (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS HEADSHOT)
President & COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Alan Horn arrives at "Celebrate Sundance Institute", the Sundance Institute's inaugural benefit in Beverly Hills, California June 8, 2011. REUTERS/Gus Ruelas (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

This provoked Horn to simply reply with, “I agree with that,” before he then detailed the integral role that the fan outcry over Spider-Man’s departure played in their reconciliation.

"The fanbase, which is important to all of us, seemed to really respond to what Tom [Rothman] and his folks had done before with our people, and they like it.”

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“They like the fact that the MCU and Kevin Feige were involved and we heard feedback out there that suggested joining forces once again was probably really a good idea."

For the time being, though, Spider-Man is only contracted to star in the sequel to Far From Home and one more Marvel movie, but when Rothman was asked specifically whether Holland would continue in the MCU after that he seemed positive.

"I hope so. I think this was a classic win, win, win. I think it was a win for Sony, I think it was a win for Disney, and I think it was a win for the fans."