Marvel director Joe Russo: ‘Spiderman exit from MCU a big mistake’
When it became evident that Disney, Sony and Marvel couldn’t come to a financial agreement about the licensing of Spiderman which ended up with Spidey being exiled from the Marvel cinematic universe and no longer allowed to appear in any future Marvel superhero films, fan reactions ranged from sadness to outrage and rebellion – with many calling for a boycott of Sony and the company’s re-release of “Spiderman Far from Home.”
And just this week, “Avengers: Endgame” director Joe Russo revealed in an interview something that all Marvel fans already knew. Russo told the Toronto Sun that Sony and Disney cutting Spiderman from future Marvel films was a “tragic mistake”.
“It was a tenuous, fraught union throughout the whole process,” he told the Toronto Sun, describing the deal between Disney and Sony.
“But, I will say, stepping back and trying to be objective as possible, that I think it’s a tragic mistake on Sony’s part to think that they can replicate [Marvel Studios boss] Kevin [Feige]’s penchant for telling incredible stories and the amazing success he has had over the years.
“I think it’s a big mistake.”
Joe’s brother Anthony Russo who co-directed “Avengers: Endgame” said that “We had a wonderful experience with that and I think audiences really appreciated that marriage.”
“But we know how hard that marriage was to make in the first place, so the fact that the marriage fell apart isn’t really that surprising to me and Joe.”
The latest rendition of Spiderman featuring actor Tom Holland first appeared in “Captain America: Civil War.” Holland went on to co-star in the other Avengers’ films and also star in solo Spidey films “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” A third solo film starring Holland is still supposed to be made – but with no references to or connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU.)
Disney and Sony were unable to reach a financial agreement in August after Disney asked that any future films featuring Spider-Man be a “50/50 co-financing arrangement” and Sony refused.
Earlier this month, Sony boss Toy Vinciquerra said the “door is closed” on Spider-Man returning to the MCU. ~ MSN
The Russo Brothers always felt that Tom Holland’s characterization of Spiderman, “was the rightful heir to Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man as the de-facto leader of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” according to a report from Yahoo!.
“It was so difficult to get him into Civil War. It was an extremely long and hard process. But we were driven to help make it happen. But Kevin Feige pulled it off, somehow. Disney and all the good people at Sony found a way to make it work and it lasted a few films.” ~ Joe Russo
The Marvel films have been regularly breaking box-office records, with “Avengers: Endgame” now being the highest grossing film of all time, coming in with an earned $2.79 billion as of August 8. If future Sony films starring Spiderman don’t fare nearly as well, Sony and Disney may feel compelled to return to the bargaining table with Marvel.
~ Written by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
