Spider-Man Movies Can Stream On Disney+ In New Sony Deal
Spider-Man movies will be able to stream on Disney+ thanks to a new deal made between Sony and Disney for the latter's streaming rights.
Spider-Man movies will be able to stream on Disney+ thanks to a new Sony/Disney deal. Even though Spider-Man has been part of Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe for a handful of years, the character's film rights remain at Sony. That's why the likes of Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home aren't part of the MCU collection on Disney+. Those two are Sony releases, and the studio negotiates their own deals with streaming services for their titles.
Case in point, earlier this month, Netflix made a deal with Sony to exclusively stream Sony's movies after their theatrical runs beginning in 2022. With Sony partnering with one of Disney+'s main rivals, it seemed unlikely the MCU would ever be whole under the same streaming roof. However, Sony and Disney have surprised once again with another unprecedented deal to shake up the industry.
In a joint statement, Disney and Sony announced a streaming and TV rights deal that covers Sony's theatrical releases from 2022-2026. Titles will be able to go on Disney+, Hulu, and other platforms after their Pay 1 TV window, fulfilling the terms of Sony's agreement with Netflix. Disney also secures Sony's library, including the previous Spider-Man films, as part of this new deal. Hulu will gain library titles this June.
As the streaming wars continue to heat up (Netflix is investing $17 billion in content this year), this gives Disney another edge over the competition. The press release mentions Sony properties like Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania, but Spider-Man is the high-profile acquisition here. Disney+ currently has a small lineup of Spider-Man content, but it consists entirely of animated programs. This brings the popular live-action Spider-Man movies to the service, including not just the MCU installments, but also the original Sam Raimi trilogy and the Amazing Spider-Man films. With rumors of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning for this December's Spider-Man: No Way Home, there's bound to be interest in rewatching the previous Spider-Man iterations, so it'd be great to get them all on the same service. It's unknown when the Spider-Man movies will be available on Disney+.
Back in 2019, Disney and Sony made headlines for the wrong reasons when they initially couldn't come to terms on a new deal to keep Spider-Man in the MCU. Fortunately, the two sides ironed out their differences, and their partnership appears to be flourishing. In addition to Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland's Peter Parker is set to appear in another MCU project. As the franchise moves into the post-Infinity Saga era, Holland is established as one of its biggest stars. It would seem Spider-Man is going to stay in the MCU for the foreseeable future. If Sony and Disney are working together in this capacity, they must enjoy their relationship.
Source: Disney and Sony