Spider-Man to remain in Marvel universe after Disney, Sony strike deal

Spider-Man, the popular web-slinging superhero currently played by actor Tom Holland, will headline a new movie in 2021 and appear in a future Marvel Studios film under a deal announced Friday by Sony Corp and Walt Disney Co.The agreement between the Hollywood studios was welcome news to fans who had feared that a corporate dispute would keep Spider-Man out of the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)."I am thrilled that Spidey's journey in the MCU will continue", Feige said in a statement.In August, Disney-owned Marvel Studios and Sony's Sony Pictures were at an impasse over Spider-Man's future. Sony owns the rights to the Marvel character under a long-standing arrangement, while Disney controls others such as Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain Marvel and Black Panther.The news about the breakup had disappointed fans, who took to Twitter to start a campaign with hashtags "#SaveSpiderMan" and "#SaveSpidey".Under the new deal, Marvel Studios and its president, Kevin Feige, will produce a third film starring Holland that will be released on July 16, 2021, a statement from the companies said. Amy Pascal also will be a producer.The most recent film in the series, June release "Spider-Man: Far From Home," ranks as Sony Pictures' highest-grossing film, fetching $1.11 billion at global box offices.Spider-Man also will appear in a future Marvel Studios film, the companies said.