EDITORIAL: Why SPIDER-MAN Can't Survive Without The Marvel Cinematic Universe
There's been a lot of talk about the Spider-Man franchise, but regardless of how you look at it, it seems fair to say that only Marvel Studios can save this iconic Marvel superhero from receiving the same fate as characters like Ghost Rider and The Punisher. Here's my in-depth take on why that is...
It's been an interesting couple of weeks for Spider-Man fans. The "Sony Hack" has revealed a ton of details about what might be in store for the iconic Marvel superhero, but perhaps the biggest revelation is that Marvel Studios do indeed want to get their hands back on arguably their greatest and most recognisable character. Of course, had The Amazing Spider-Man 2 not been a critical and commercial failure, Sony Pictures would have likely forged ahead with their plans for The Amazing Spider-Man 3, The Sinister Six, and Venom. Before anyone argues with The Amazing Spider-Man 2 being labelled a failure, the majority of respected critics and fans disliked it, and combine that with the fact that Sony were hoping for a return of over $1 billion (but only got around $700 million after spending upwards of $250 million), it WAS a FAILURE. Like it or not, that is simply a fact!
As a result, Marvel Studios obviously decided to take advantage of Sony's desperation and confusion about where to go next with the franchise by offering them a deal. There have been so many emails and conflicting reports, we honestly have no idea whether it's going to happen or what it might involve. A recent report claimed that the emails revealed that Peter Parker would be decked out in the Iron Spider suit in Captain America: Civil War before starring in a rebooted series of movies set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the taking on a role in the two-part Avengers: Infinity War. It all sounds pretty good (apart from the fact that Marvel apparently want to keep Peter Parker a teenager), but do Kevin Feige and company really need Spider-Man?
No.
Sony have no one to steer them in the right direction, and it's hard to imagine them making a good Spider-Man movie at this point; it has after all been a decade since the release of the last really great one (that would be 2004's Spider-Man 2 in case you're not old enough to remember).
Nothing Sony has planned sounds remotely appealing because they ultimately don't understand the character they hold the rights to. Like the Ghost Rider franchise, they run the risk of running Spider-Man into the ground, and it wouldn't be all that surprising to see the character ending up on the shelf for years like the Fantastic Four at this rate. That's why Marvel Studios need to be involved in restoring Spider-Man to greatness. Sure, bringing in new producers and rebooting again at Sony could work, but there's no evidence to support that statement. They brought Venom to life in 2007 and got the character completely wrong. They promised an "Untold Story" and gave us more of the same, removing anything new through extensive reshoots. They repeated the mistakes of the past by cramming too many villains into The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Marvel Studios meanwhile have made hits out of movies starring Captain America, Thor, and the freaking Guardians of the Galaxy!
Imagine what people who care about and understand Spider-Man could do with him? This isn't just about throwing him into The Avengers to make a quick buck, it's about getting the character right; not the humourless Peter Parker of Sam Raimi's trilogy or the cocky and unlikeable Peter Parker from Marc Webb's movies. Marvel Studios have made a lot of changes to the comic books, but the spirit of the characters and what we love about them has remained intact. The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus were great, but did they or any of the other villains we've so far seen really do their comic book counterparts justice? Think back also to the shrill Mary Jane Watson or Emma Stone's goofy Gwen Stacy (both little more than damsels in distress rather than the strong female characters we've seen in the Marvel Studios movies like Peggy Carter and Pepper Potts).
Would it be nice to see the Fantastic Four and X-Men join him? Sure, but they're holding their own right now. Spider-Man isn't, and his salvation can be brought about by only one man: Kevin Feige. What do you think?