Marvel Studios fans hoping to see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man swinging into live-action Disney+ series may be in for some disappointment. Brad Winderbaum, a prominent Marvel Studios executive, recently confirmed that the character will not be appearing in any upcoming live-action shows on the platform. The reason for this is tied to Sony’s control over the long-form television rights for Spider-Man.
This revelation means that while the web-slinger is a major player in the MCU films, he won’t be showing up in live-action streaming content for now. Sony’s grip on the television rights extends beyond just the big screen and prevents Marvel Studios from integrating Spider-Man into the live-action Disney+ series. While fans have long hoped for a web-slinging cameo in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, or any future MCU shows, that simply won’t be happening for the foreseeable future.
However, not all hope is lost. There’s still room for Spider-Man to swing into animated series. Winderbaum clarified that while Sony holds the television rights for live-action content, Marvel Studios is still free to feature Spider-Man in animated projects, although these would be limited to 30-minute episodes. While it might not be the live-action crossover many fans envisioned, animated Spider-Man shows in the MCU still offer exciting possibilities.
Screentime shared on X, “Marvel Exec Brad Winderbaum confirms Spider-Man can’t appear in Disney+ live-action shows
“They [Sony] have long-form television rights… he can do like 30 minute animation”
Marvel Exec Brad Winderbaum confirms Spider-Man can’t appear in Disney+ live-action shows
“They [Sony] have long-form television rights… he can do like 30 minute animation”
(via: @PhaseHero) pic.twitter.com/56VXFygaIh
— ScreenTime (@screentime) February 24, 2025
Despite the setback for live-action fans, the silver lining is that Spider-Man can continue to thrive in Marvel’s animation realm. The webslinger may yet find his way into new and creative projects in the animated world, but don’t expect him to appear swinging alongside the likes of Loki or Ms. Marvel on Disney+ anytime soon.
Related: Marvel and Sony Scrap ‘Spider-Man 4’ Release Date
What’s Behind Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man Relationship?
The issue of Spider-Man’s rights in the cinematic world is far more complicated than a simple licensing deal. It traces back to the early 1990s when Marvel Comics, facing financial difficulties, was forced to sell off the film rights to many of its properties, including Spider-Man. In 1999, Sony Pictures struck a deal with Marvel, securing the film rights to the iconic web-slinger.
At the time, Marvel was struggling and wasn’t the powerhouse it is today, so selling the rights seemed like the best move to ensure financial survival. The deal allowed Sony to produce Spider-Man films, but Marvel still retained certain rights, particularly the character’s comic book rights and merchandise. This agreement also came with a stipulation that Sony had to produce a Spider-Man film every few years, or else the rights would revert to Marvel.
The 2002 Sam Raimi Spider-Man: The Beginning of a New Era
The first major Spider-Man film under Sony’s direction, Spider-Man (2002), directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, became an instant success. This was the beginning of a new era for superhero films, and Sony continued making Spider-Man sequels throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.
Despite the success of the Raimi films, and later the Amazing Spider-Man series starring Andrew Garfield, Sony found that it wasn’t always easy to satisfy fans and critics alike. By 2014, Sony realized that it might be time for a fresh direction for Spider-Man in film. Enter Marvel Studios.
The Historic Marvel-Sony Deal: Enter the MCU
In 2015, Sony and Marvel Studios struck a groundbreaking deal that allowed Spider-Man to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) without Marvel having full control of the character’s film rights. This deal was unique in that it allowed both companies to benefit from the shared use of Spider-Man.
Under the agreement, Sony would still handle the solo Spider-Man films, but Marvel Studios (under Disney’s guidance) would provide creative oversight and input. This meant that Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the MCU, would have significant influence on the direction of Spider-Man’s films. The deal allowed Spider-Man to make appearances in the MCU’s ensemble films, starting with Captain America: Civil War (2016), while still maintaining Sony’s hold on his solo film ventures.
The deal was a win-win situation: Sony could have Spider-Man appear in major MCU films like Avengers: Infinity Warand Endgame (2018–2019) and integrate the character into the MCU’s vast narrative, while Marvel Studios gained access to one of the most popular characters in the superhero world.
The Split in 2019: Tensions Rise
Despite the success of this collaboration, things took a turn in 2019. After the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home, both Sony and Disney reportedly began to disagree over the financial terms of their arrangement. Disney wanted a larger cut of the profits from the Spider-Man films, asking for a 50/50 revenue split, while Sony wanted to keep a larger portion of the box office revenue.
The negotiations broke down, and for a brief time, it seemed as if Spider-Man would be leaving the MCU entirely. The possibility of losing Spider-Man from the MCU sent shockwaves through the fan community, and the media frenzy that followed was intense. Fortunately, after several weeks of uncertainty, Sony and Marvel reached a new agreement in September 2019, which allowed Spider-Man to remain in the MCU for future films, though Sony would still retain control over his solo projects.
How the Deal Works: The Current Arrangement
At present, Sony continues to control Spider-Man’s movie rights, but the character exists within the larger MCU continuity. This has allowed Spider-Man to be a central figure in MCU films like Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, but it has also enabled Sony to keep making Spider-Man solo films, such as Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019), and No Way Home (2021).
Under the terms of the deal, Marvel Studios doesn’t own the film rights to Spider-Man, but it does receive a cut of the box office profits from the solo films. Marvel’s involvement in the creative process has included choosing directors, writers, and storylines for the Spider-Man films, which has allowed the character to remain consistent with the broader MCU’s tone and narrative.
What’s Next for Spider-Man?
Even though Spider-Man’s cinematic fate is securely in Sony’s hands, the relationship between Sony and Marvel has proven to be fruitful for both parties. Sony has plans for future Spider-Man films and has expanded on the character with spinoff projects like Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and the Morbius film (2022). While these films operate in a universe separate from the MCU, they still carry Spider-Man’s legacy and use elements of his world.
Looking ahead, Spider-Man’s presence in the MCU isn’t going anywhere. The character will continue to appear in MCU films, though his own standalone adventures will remain under Sony’s control. For now, it seems that the partnership will continue, with Marvel playing a secondary role while Sony leads the charge on Spider-Man’s big-screen future.
Despite the shifting nature of their relationship, the fact remains that Sony retains ownership of Spider-Man’s film and television rights. Marvel Studios will continue to integrate the character into its expansive MCU storylines, but the reality is that Spider-Man’s movie rights will always belong to Sony. This unique partnership between the two studios has allowed Spider-Man to live on the big screen, in the MCU, and in his own cinematic universe—giving fans a little bit of everything.
