Hold onto your hats, this news is huge!! It's been something comic book fans have been wanting for a long time now and it seems their prayers have been answered, as Marvel Studios and Sony Entertainment have announced that Spider-Man's new home is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the two studios collaborating on a "new creative direction for the web slinger". This will see Spidey make an appearance in a Marvel Phase Three movie (the rumour mill will go into overdrive, but good money is on Captain America: Civil War, since he has a major role in the storyline in the comics), before going onto star in his own solo movie on July 28th 2017, one that Sony and Marvel will co-produce. Sony will still continue to finance, distribute, and have final control over the Spider-Man films, but the character will benefit greatly by being part of the greater Marvel whole. As Disney chairman and CEO, Bob Iger, put it, "Spider-Man is one of Marvel's great characters, beloved around the world. We're thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building."
The current Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, is mentioned no where in the press release announcing this massive development, and, while Sony could surprise us, I think it's safe to assume that a second reboot of the character, with a new actor in the red and blue costume, is on the cards, and Sony's plans for a Spider-Man Cinematic, including Sinister Six and Venom spin-off's, will be put to one side. It makes perfect sense for Sony to go into this new venture with an entirely clean slate.
With Spider-Man being set to swing into his own solo movie in 2017, this brings some major changes to Marvel's Phase Three line-up. Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, and Guardians of the Galaxy will keep their release dates of May 6th 2016, November 4th 2016, and May 5th 2015, respectively, but most of the other Phase Three movie will be getting pushed back, with only Avengers: Infinity War Parts 1 and 2, due out May 2018 and May 2019), seemingly remaining unchanged. The new line up for the latter part of Phase Three breaks down as follows:
2017July 28th: Unnamed Spider-Man film
November 3rd: Thor: Ragnarok
November 3rd: Thor: Ragnarok
2018 July 6th: Black Panther
November 2nd: Captain Marvel
November 2nd: Captain Marvel
2019: July 12th: Inhumans
