Disney’s Bob Iger Thanks Tom Holland for “Discussion About Spider-Man”
Thanks to massive box-office returns, everyone involved in Spider-Man: Now Way Home must be enjoying Christmas.
That includes Disney Executive Chairman Robert “Bob” Iger, who tweeted the following on Christmas day:
Hey @TomHolland1996 …I’m glad we had that discussion about Spider-Man and congratulations on the success of @SpiderMan No Way Home! Merry Christmas, too!
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) December 25, 2021
“Hey @TomHolland1996,” Iger tweeted at the MCU’s Spider-Man star. “I’m glad we had that discussion about Spider-Man and congratulations on the success of @SpiderMan No Way Home! Merry Christmas, too!”
Fans might recall that in 2019, Spidey was on the brink of leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A drunken call from Holland to Iger helped convince Disney and Sony to extend their collaboration.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger with Tom Holland
Spider-Man has always been a Marvel character, and Disney has owned Marvel since 2009. Sony bought the Spider-Man film rights in 1999, though, and holds them to this day.
Starting with Peter Parker’s appearance in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, Disney and Sony have had a deal. Sony would maintain Spider-Man’s film rights, but Disney could use this version of Spidey throughout the MCU.
How long the two studios will continue to play nice with each other remains to be seen. But if Iger’s tweet is any indication, both camps appear to be pleased with the arrangement.
Sony Pictures Entertainment producer Amy Pascal seems happy to continue collaborating as well. A few weeks before No Way Home’s release, she revealed that three more Spider-Man films are planned.
Amy Pascal (left) with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige (center) and Tom Holland
Not only would these upcoming Spidey movies continue to star Tom Holland, but Disney will continue to be involved. How this affects Sony’s Spider-Man offshoots like Morbius and Venom is unclear, though.
Corporate politics aside, I’m glad Holland and Iger were savvy enough to facilitate Spidey’s continued MCU tenure. I have issues with Spider-Man’s MCU characterization, but he’s a Marvel character. Keeping him in the Marvel Universe, cinematic or otherwise, just feels right.
Granted, the best superhero movie ever, let alone Spider-Man movie, was strictly a Sony production. I’m talking, of course, about 2018’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Fight me.
Feature Image: Getty Images
