The Russo brothers think Sony made a "tragic mistake" in ending their Spider-Man deal with Marvel. In early 2015, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures reached an unprecedented agreement that allowed Spider-Man to be reinvented as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sadly, that deal has now ended, and the two studios have parted ways.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo have been a part of the deal from the very beginning, when Marvel first approached Sony in the hope of incorporating Spider-Man into Russos have said they weren't surprised Marvel and Sony parted ways, but avoided airing their opinions on the split.
Until a recent interview with the Toronto Sun, that is. In it, the Russos reiterate how much of a delight it was to work with Spider-Man, but Joe Russo goes on to add that he feels Sony will suffer because the deal has ended. "Stepping back and trying to be objective as possible," Joe Russo reflects, "I think it’s a tragic mistake on Sony’s part to think that they can replicate Kevin [Feige]’s penchant for telling incredible stories and the amazing success he has had over the years. I think it’s a big mistake."
The Russos certainly have a point. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is a visionary film-maker who plans things out years in advance; the success of the entire MCU is in large part due to his tremendous skill. Feige was given pretty much sole control of the MCU after a corporate restructure in 2015, and since then the franchise has gone from strength to strength, with a series of high-profile blockbusters. He seems to have an eye for talent, identifying scriptwriters and directors who can turn a film into a success, and he gives his directors a lot of creative freedom. Spider-Man certainly profited from Feige's leadership, with Sony's highest-grossing film ever.
Presumably Sony would disagree, pointing to the success of Avengers: Endgame.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether or not the Russo brothers are right. Sony believe they can incorporate Spider-Man into their Venomverse, replacing Iron Man and Nick Fury team-ups with alliances with Venom and Morbius. MCU fans find the prospect disappointing, to say the least; #SonyIsOver trended for days after the deal broke down. Still, it remains to be seen whether or not casual moviegoers will keep turning up now the wall-crawler has left the MCU.
Source: Toronto Sun
