EDITORIAL: Why THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN Is Set In The MCU

*Christoph Waltz

I think that Agutter lady (or whatever her name is) just saw someone and assumed it was Spider-Man, when it could have been Cap or Thor. I think she was just confused.

I wish I could get onboard with this theory, but your case seems pretty thin.

1) Sony Pictures is actually doing rather well. This year marked a high for them, with 21 Oscar Nominations. They released Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and have recently purchased a broadcast network. Much as I'd like to believe that the Spider-Man franchise was on its way back where it belongs, I don't see the evidence here.

2) This is just pure supposition at this point. It's just as easy to say that the Spider-Man movie is crossing over with Chris Nolan's Batman because Richard Parker MAY secretly be working for Wayne Enterprises. Until we hear a reference to SHIELD in the ASM movie, there's just nothing to support this theory.

3) I feel like you're really stretching with the New York connection. It's a Marvel Comics character, bud. That means that if you're superhuman and don't have a regular room over on Greymalkin Lane, then you're probably operating in New York City. Furthermore, Spiderman has always been a quintessentially New York character, so his movie adventures will probably ALWAYS be set there.

4) Since you start out admitting that this is speculation, I won't go into it much. Suffice to say that at this point, it's a "what if they did this?!" thought, not a supportable theory.

Great idea, MovieMaster, but there's no real case here.

Plus they need to do spin off films for Venom, and Scarlet Spider!

My idea for a Scarlet Spider Saga:

Scarlet Spider would deal with Ben Reilly, and perhaps Kaine taking over his mantle, it would have Peter in it yet not focus on Peter, and have Peter as more of a supporting character. What I think I'd do is I'd make Ben Reilly not a clone but a guy off the street that was captured by Jackal and given Pete's blood so that he looked like him and also had his powers, plus he would have amnesia. This intro would be in the main SM film series perhaps or it might be in the first Scarlet Spider movie, then it would be revealed that Madame Web has sort of helped along all the spider powered people basicly giving each spider powers including Peter, Kaine, the Spider Women, and most of the others except Ben Reilly (as he got his powers from Jackel). But Ben would become an honorary member of the Scarlet Spiders which Madame Web heads. Then in the second film Ben might die, and Kaine would take over.

My idea for a Venom Saga:

After Eddie first gets the suit in the main SM film series, he is defeated and perhaps captured by Shield. He escapes and starts trying to be a hero, sort an anti-hero. Then he would choose to get rid of the suit finally and Flash Thomson would find it. Flash would finally become Agent Venom and work for Shield in his own spin off movies.

What do you guys think?

@ironman53- Thanks dude! Hopefully this won't be controversial and hate filled like my last Editorial LOL!

I'd prefer Garfield's Spidey to appear in the MCU than to be rebooted once again IF Sony goes bust and Marvel gets the film rights back. I do however feel that MArvel may focus on Spider-Man if they were to get the rights back which would side-line films like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange in favour of Spidey who they know will sell.

If its FACT that Sony is going bust then why have they made plans for other films? If they're going bust without question they wouldn't make plans for more films (TASM sequels)

Daneel Ackles (Harris) for MJ in a TASM sequel!

God idea and it hope it's true. Spidey and ghost rider being in the MCU would be some of the best news since I heard they were making a Avengers movie.

If Parker is there taking pictures I would be disappointed if he didn't join the fight as spiderman. Seeing as though this takes place before TASM Parker might not have his powers yet. Why is he taking pictures pre spidey/ pre bugle job? he doesn't really have a reason to risk his life for some snapshots. Unless like you said Peter could have an idea that his parents work for shield and wants to know what it's all about and get inspired to be a hero by seeing cap and the others. I'm rambling but your idea has promise if true.

who said that Spidey would be in the Avengers???

I bet you $100 that Spider-Man exist in a separate universe.

@teabag- Another great reason, cheers!

Nice article, but it still seems like wishful thinking.

Assuming though, that there is a Peter cameo, I'm pretty sure he doesn't work at the Bugle in ASM and that in most cases he only does photography to make money off of being Spider-man. With that in mind, why would he be taking pictures of the battle instead of fighting? Are you suggesting that pre-spider bite Peter was just into photography and there for fun? Doesn't seem quite right to me. Interesting idea though.

I don't know guys. At first, I was like "no way, I know where all the rights are, there's no way Spider-Man will show up. Jenny Agutter saw an Ant Man outfit or something".

Then, I started doing some digging. Marvel seems to be in a buying spree; they got Blade and Punisher back not too long ago, and they got the merchandising rights to Spider-Man, apparently in a bid by Sony to keep the movie deal they made years back. Here are the links, with a complete list of who owns what in the first link:

Marvel Screenrights

Marvel and Sony deal

There's been word of Sony Entertainments' current standings, both good and bad, but I think we can all say with certainty that they're fluctuating somehow.

And finally, there's nothing saying that Marvel and Sony couldn't have cut a deal with a small cameo. In the end, Spider-Man IS Marvel's baby; and no matter where he is, they want to see him be successful. A cameo in the Avengers could be a show of good faith in TASM run.

Nice write up but I honestly do not think Spidey/Peter will have a cameo.

IT STILL THINKS ITS VERY POSSIBLE
THIS IS WHAT I FOUND IN THE ARTICLE..

THOUGH IT DOES NOT CLEARLY SAY'S WHO'S QUOTE ITS FROM

"Speculation has been rampant if one of the original Avengers from the comic books will make an appearance or just a cameo. Spider-man will be dropping in, but just for a look quick before you miss him cameo. It would be a little off putting if Spider-man was in the film before his movie comes out. With the new ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, they have to adjust audiences to Andrew Garfield along with the new take on the Peter Parker story so the cameo is a nice reminder, as if we’ll need that when that marketing machine hits full force"

I THINK SPIDERMAN EVENTS TAKES PLACE BEFORE AVENGERS..OR THE NYC BATTLE

While I doubt Spidey is in the Avengers, I would like to clear up what seems to be confusion over Sony Pictures Entertainment


The company is in trouble. They lost A LOT of money and trust with the PSN disaster last year. Not to mention the poor start of their new Vita system in Japan (things arn't looking much better in the US; preorders arn't exactly flying off the shelf). The company, while not in corporate-bailout level trouble, will need to downsize to keep profits and stocks up. They will likely cut their non-essential, non-electronic, least profitable divisions first. Sony Pictures (Columbia, Tri-star, etc) is at the top of that list.

It makes sense, really. While they have had a good Oscar year, they didn't really make that much money. (Oscars =/= money) They don't really have any franchises outside of Spider-Man, Men in Black, and partial rights to the Bond franchise. While I expect Columbia to finish the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, the first film didn't live up to expectations financially. They could easily retool their animation company as part of Sony Computer Entertainment, or strike a deal with another distributer if/when they sell their picture division.

I expect one of three scenarios to happen within the next 12 months...

1) Sony will liquidate their motion picture division, and sell their companies (Columbia, Tri-Star) and franchises individually. Spidey would likely just revert back to Marvel in this case, or Disney would swoop in and grab him.

2) Sony will sell their entire motion picture division to the Highest bidder, companies and franchises included. Disney, again, would likely swoop in for Spidey and other potentially lucrative franchises for their future films, television programs, merchandising, and parks. (Ghost Busters themed Tower of Terror, anyone? Men in Black toys with Will Smith's face plastered everywhere?)

3) Sony will downsize their film division and produce fewer films in an attempt to return to profitability. I think this is the least likely, as it would be easier and more cost-effective to just sell.

This isn't just something I've randomly come up with either. I did research to come to these conclusions.


So yeah. Disney/Marvel WILL most likely be getting Spidey within the year. I don't think he will be in the Avengers, and I don't think that the Amazing Spider-Man is set within the MCU... yet. If this transpires within the year, I could see them incorporating the already existing ASM continuity into the MCU. Just not now.

@ ForrestLee: You make the most sense.

@ Movie Master: I'd love to Spidey to be in the MCU, heck, I think that this franchise is poised to be incorporated later on should Sony and Marvel/Disney agree to it, but I don't think he'll be in The Avengers. Here's my response to your specific bullet points.

1. I guess you're right about Sony going bankrupt, other people are backing you up with sources in addition to the ones you provided. But I have to say that I disagree with you on MIB 3. While MIB 2 was stale in comparison to the first, it has been a long time, and Will Smith has been laying low since 2008 (producing stuff I gather). I think a lot of people will want to see him back, and are willing to give MIB 3 a chance.

2. I see your point, but the last statement you made is speculation. Sure they were agents in ASM comics, but Sony is taking from USM comics too. In USM, Peter's parents didn't work for SHIELD, but rather they were murdered by a corrupt business corporation called Trask. Trask Industries contractually took Richard Parker and Edward Brock Sr's work, and murdered them to keep them from completing their work through other means. In other words, their murder had nothing to do with SHIELD, it was just corporate warfare, and this may be the case in the movie as well.

3. It makes sense for a battle to happen in New York City for reasons not related to Spidey too. This is why I'm reluctant to call this more than a coincidence. The thing is, big cities are popular places for movies to have their big showdowns. New York City is especially popular, *especially* for characters created by Marvel.

So why not LA or Chicago or Detroit? Well, probably b/c the Avengers headquarters/Stark Tower has traditionally been located in NYC. We're talking way before Marvel Studios existed. I know that Jon Favreau put Stark in LA for his movies, but that wasn't really comics based, and there's not much reason to keep the films centered in LA either. Regardless, you can see Stark Towers smack in the middle of NYC in the teaser trailer. So if you think about it, knowing that TASM will be based in NYC and the Avengers will have some scenes in NYC doesn't really tell us anything.

@alucard
Yes but it being more dark and character driven not so much as him being the only superhero.

Here's the truth, ladies and gentlemen. Spiderman will not be having any cameos in the Avengers film. As awesome as it would be, it's not realistic. Besides the fact that there are already like five heroes in the movie, another would be too much. Cause with actors, sometimes it comes to be about screen time and whatnot, not to mention money. A reference to the Daily Bugle or Midtown High would be nice. I can't picture Spiderman in the Avengers, not at least until the sequel, which I presume will most likely be based upon the New Avengers. I'd rather wait for that and have it done right rather than throw him in there for... say 10 minutes. *cough, Venom, cough*