Summary
The rights surrounding Spider-Man in theMCUhave been a bit confusing for movie-goers in the last few years. Sony essentially allowed Marvel Studios to borrow Spider-Man so that the iconic Marvel character can be a part of theMCU, thus to the benefit of both Sony and Marvel Studios. However, that hasn’t stopped Sony from trying to make its own Spider-Verse on the side, considering they own the rights to many iconic Spider-Man heroes and villains, like Venom and, yes, even Morbius.
Whilst Sony tries to make a Spider-Verse work, and the MCU continues to try and figure out its Multiverse Saga plans, recent rumors have circulated surrounding Sony’s universe colliding with the MCU, bringing in heavy hitters like Tom Hardy’s Venom, and potentially the newMadame Webmovie into the MCU. It might sound bizarre, but there are somepositives to be had from this concept.
7All Of Spider-Man’s Foes Will Be Fair Game
Spider-Man’s Iconic Rogues Gallery Joins The MCU
One issue that Marvelhas had to face when creating theirSpider-Manmovies is that they have to be careful about what villains they use in the story. That is because the company is not allowed to use any Spider-Man foes that Sony is using in their projects. Such a decision has meant that the MCU’s Spider-Man has had three solo films so far and is yet to face off against one of his most important foes, Venom. It also looks as if Spider-Man will not befighting Kravenin the MCU any time soon, as Sony is releasing a solo film based on the character in 2024.
If Sony and Marvel merged their movie universes, then the MCU would have access to any Spider-Man villain they would want. Some of the versions of these characters would also be previously established for audiences as well. The idea of bringing forth Venom and the wild mythology of the God of Symbiotes could make for a greatAvengersstoryline down the road.
6Removing Mistakes
The Morbius Blunder
The Morbius movie released in 2022 was hardly what fans were expecting, especially sincethe movie only scored 15% on Rotten Tomatoes.However, a poorly received movie is more forgivable for fans than the film’s final post-credit scene. The scene in question was clearly filmed at the last minute and saw Morbius driving out to the desert to be confronted by The Vulture fromSpider-Man: Homecoming. The reason why this version of the character swaps universes is unclear, and the pair discussing teaming up makes even less sense, as Michael Morbius is not established as an anti-hero in the film, or as one who has an issue with Spider-Man.
If the SonySpider-Man universe merged with the MCU, mistakes like this could be removed. A small time jump could make the scene clearer or the fact that so many movies are going on at once would make fans eventually forget about this blunder.
5Great Talent
Sony’s Heavy Hitters, Like Tom Hardy and Matt Smith
The main thing that Sony has done right with their movie universe is that they have added some great names to their movies. Actors like Tom Hardy, Matt Smith, andDakota Johnsonare all part of this universe, and the company is even working with some great directors like Andy Serkis and potentially Olivia Wilde.
The fact that these big names are working for Sony means that they are more than likely told to stay away from MCU projects. However, merging the universes would give Marvel Studios access to these great performers. It is never a mistake to add talent, a fact that Marvel Studios already knows.
4Less Damage To The Marvel Brand
Sony’s Failure Could Reflect Poorly On Other Marvel Projects
Whenever a Sony Spider-Verse movie starts, a logo will appear stating that the film is in association with Marvel. This is a legal obligation that Sony must adhere to that signifies that they are using characters that were created by Marvel. However, most movie audiences do not know this. Just seeing a version of the Marvel logo is enough to make fans think that it is a Marvel Studios movie associated with the MCU, likeThororThe Avengers.
This brand confusion can damage the MCU if the Sony movie is not well received, and fans will be less likely to go out and see the next Marvel movie. If the universes were merged, Marvel Studios would have more control over brand damage that comes from external sources.
3Movies Under One Creative Umbrella
The MCU Works So Well Because Of Its Singular Vision
Kevin Feige is a famed producer and the President of Marvel Studios. As such, nothing happens in theMCUwithout his green light. Directors and writers can include their own unique vision, butFeige has always been thereto verify the storylines link up to create one cohesive universe of superheroes.Sony’sSpider-Verse movies do not have this singular head of the franchise, which leaves the universe open to inconsistencies and plot holes that fans may shy away from.
Bringing these characters and movies under one umbrella can help ensure that all these characters make sense as part of one universe. It may mean fans have to wait a bit longer to see some Spider-Man villains on the big screen, but it is worth it to have them in a world that makes sense.
2Disney Plus Series
Intimate Stories Can Be Told
Marvel Studiosis owned by the parent company Disney, which is one of the biggest media companies on the planet. They operate the streaming platform Disney Plus, which is the home of all old and new MCU content. The company has even expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe to TV by featuring shows on lesser-known characters like Kate Bishop and Ms. Marvel or bringing greater depth to those already established, like Loki and Nick Fury.
Not every superhero, villain, or anti-hero owned by Sony is big enough to lead their own movie franchise. Fortunately, merging with the MCUwould allow the company to tell some smaller stories on TV shows on Disney+. These shows could also raise the profile of the characters, which would make them more valuable to Sonyin the future.
1Giving The MCU A Shot At An Animated Spider-Verse
Miles Morales' Animated Movies Are Beloved
Sony decided to bring in the next Spider-Man for theiranimated feature,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which featured Miles Morales' origin story in beautiful and well-crafted animation and story telling, which further expands Spider-Man’s mythos through the use of the Multiverse.
While the merging of the Sony Spider-Verse and the MCU is a move that would mostly benefit Sony, there is no doubt that Marvelwould like to share in some of the animatedSpider-Manfranchise’s success. They could use their vast resources to take the movies in an even bigger direction, or even start adding some of their own characters to the mix.
