Amy Pascal's Sony Departure Could Lead To Renegotiations With Marvel Over SPIDER-MAN
Amy Pascal has been ousted as the boss of Sony Pictures, and while she's been given a producers credit on all future instalments of the Spider-Man franchise (which most definitely isn't good news for fans), it sounds like her departure will still lead to some major changes...
In a very interesting piece over at Variety which appears to be based on equal parts speculation and insider info, they weigh in on the possible future of the Spider-Man franchise following the departure of Amy Pascal. As you may have already heard, she's been handed a producer's credit on future instalments of the series, a role which hopefully won't see the barely literate studio boss have too much in the way of creative control. Regardless, it seems like the new brass will be the one to make some big changes in the current direction that the series - which is currently in limbo - will be taking. Again, don't take the following as confirmation, but it IS very interesting...
The biggest decision for Lynton and Pascal’s successor will be how to handle the Spider-Man franchise. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ did respectable business last summer but was hardly the $1 billion blockbuster that Pascal had told folks that she needed it to be.
“Spider-Man” remains a cash cow but the plans for expanding the Spidey universe through villain spin-offs and the next installment may be reexamined — since Pascal played the leading role pursuing that path. A new regime may take a stronger look at returning to the negotiation table with Marvel Studios over Spidey’s rights.
Sony’s last move on that front came in July during Comic-Con when the studio dated spin-off “Sinister Six” for Nov. 11, 2016 as the next tentpole in its key property — while moving back “The Amazing Spider-Man 3″ two years to 2018. The idea of bringing in villains is aimed at making Sony a stronger competitor against the likes of Disney/Marvel’s “Avengers” and Warner Bros.’ “Justice League” superheroes in the coming years.