The Curious Case of Spider-Man & Hulk Rights (Or Keep Hope Alive That the Rights Will Revert)

[Detective Conan]

I have seen other places that if Sony is sold, the rights to Spider-Man automatically go back to Marvel, so Apple won't get Spider-Man in a purchase.

That’s speculation with no evidence to back it up

 

[The forest gate]

Buying Sony Entertainment would make sense for Apple. They get Spider-Man, Ghostbusters, Men in Black. All properties that lend themselves to streaming. In the case of Ghostbusters and MIB they are possibly more suited to TV than movies.

It's possible Apple would want to reboot for a streaming service but allow the current cast to be used in MCU films.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I will believe this whole Apple buying Sony Pictures thing when it actually happens. This has been rumored for a long time as something that can potentially happen but it never does. So until further notice, nothing has changed. Further, we don't really have any evidence outside of speculation that that would mean the rights would go back to Marvel.

 

[spider-neil]

Apple has to buy 'someone' to get a jump on the streaming ladder. I think Sony Entertainment is an easier get than Netflix.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Apple has to buy 'someone' to get a jump on the streaming ladder. I think Sony Entertainment is an easier get than Netflix.

Well yes that would be an easier get, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen either. It's just as likely at this point in time that they'll end up buying something like Paramount instead. They're doing pretty poorly right now. Arguably worse than Sony Pictures. So again, until something on this actually happens and we get information from a real and credible source, I see articles being nothing more than clickbait to get fans to click on their articles because they know fans will read anything for any nugget of Spider-Man news they can get

 

[Zarex]

With the Big Three of Disney, Warner Entertainment and NBC/Universal siloing their Glengarry leads, it makes sense for Apple, Netflix and Amazon to remain studio agnostic rather than commit to one production source. Buying Sony, Paramount or The Asylum still doesn't get them up into the top three, so it's probably best to pick and choose from the studios not committed to their own streaming service (Though an Apple-Netflix combo probably will make sense at some point.)

 

[WereCoyote]

Well yes that would be an easier get, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen either. It's just as likely at this point in time that they'll end up buying something like Paramount instead. They're doing pretty poorly right now. Arguably worse than Sony Pictures. So again, until something on this actually happens and we get information from a real and credible source, I see articles being nothing more than clickbait to get fans to click on their articles because they know fans will read anything for any nugget of Spider-Man news they can get

Paramount still exists? I thought they got bought out long ago.

 

[The forest gate]

Viacom have more visual entertainment options so less likely to sell than Sony who are ultimately more into their gaming and tech products.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Other than Spider-man what does Sony pictures have that is even worth considering spending money on?

 

[I Am The Knight]

Jumanji, Ghostbusters, Men In Black?

 

[Zarex]

Other than Spider-man what does Sony pictures have that is even worth considering spending money on?

The Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Television libraries.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Laughed at the first response then said hmmm good point to the next lol

 

[smallville fan]

I have seen other places that if Sony is sold, the rights to Spider-Man automatically go back to Marvel, so Apple won't get Spider-Man in a purchase.

Been seeing this too. In the late 90's, they made a contract clause saying that if Sony Pictures were to be sold off, the rights revert to Marvel.

 

[Orba]

Even if he rights don't revert automatically I think that Apple would be more willing to sell the rights back, if nothing else it would let them get back some of money they spent. A lot of the problems with Sony comes down to ego, Apple would not have that issue. I'm sure they would want a decent amount for the rights but nothing too rediculous. Disney would probably even be willing to offer some of their franchises like Predator, Alien, Die Hard etc that they picked up from Fox.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I don't know why you guys are focusing so much energy on this particular talking point. Nowhere else outside of fan based websites is this even really a relevant discussion about Apple buying Sony Pictures. You don't really see Deadline or Vanity Fair talking much about that possibility. Is this something that may happen one day? Maybe but it just seems like fans clinging to desperate things just so they can see their precious Spider-Man come back into the MCU. We have no evidence even though that would result in him coming back into the MCU for sure. Just speculation and hopes that maybe Apple would be willing to play ball. At the end of the day, is this really worth talking about? Smoke that is barely even there and it doesn't even necessarily result in the conclusion you guys want?

 

[MahvelBaby!]

I think Apple would at the very least be more willing to do the deal that was proposed as long as it is mutually beneficial.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I think Apple would at the very least be more willing to do the deal that was proposed as long as it is mutually beneficial.

This is once again though and assumption. We are assuming Apple is going to eventually get into the picture to buy Sony Pictures. We are assuming Apple is going to play ball with Marvel Studios and get Spider-Man back into the MCU even if they gets the rights. But none of this is certain. Who's to say that Apple will just do the same thing so Sony is doing? I know we're all looking for some White Knight to come in here and save the day for everybody, but Apple is just another large-scale Corporation. Who's to say they're just not going to make things worse and be more stingy then Sony is?

Listen, I'm not coming in here to try to ruin anybody's parade. I'm just saying I don't think things are so easily fixed like we think they are.

 

[The forest gate]

I don't know why you guys are focusing so much energy on this particular talking point. Nowhere else outside of fan based websites is this even really a relevant discussion about Apple buying Sony Pictures. You don't really see Deadline or Vanity Fair talking much about that possibility. Is this something that may happen one day? Maybe but it just seems like fans clinging to desperate things just so they can see their precious Spider-Man come back into the MCU. We have no evidence even though that would result in him coming back into the MCU for sure. Just speculation and hopes that maybe Apple would be willing to play ball. At the end of the day, is this really worth talking about? Smoke that is barely even there and it doesn't even necessarily result in the conclusion you guys want?

Sony Pictures CEO felt the rumours were serious enough the other week to claim Sony was not for sale.

 

[Ninjablade]

The Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Television libraries.

The Television library alone is worth a crap ton of money. I mean they just raked in a huge deal from Netflix on Seinfeld alone. They produce so much popular content.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Sony Pictures CEO felt the rumours were serious enough the other week to claim Sony was not for sale.

That ultimately doesn't mean anything. If you're asked a question, you have to answer it. If you're asked are you going to sell your company, you have to answer it.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Sony Pictures CEO has no say really now if SONY themselves said that. I'd be like ok that's out the window.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

This is once again though and assumption. We are assuming Apple is going to eventually get into the picture to buy Sony Pictures. We are assuming Apple is going to play ball with Marvel Studios and get Spider-Man back into the MCU even if they gets the rights. But none of this is certain. Who's to say that Apple will just do the same thing so Sony is doing? I know we're all looking for some White Knight to come in here and save the day for everybody, but Apple is just another large-scale Corporation. Who's to say they're just not going to make things worse and be more stingy then Sony is?

Listen, I'm not coming in here to try to ruin anybody's parade. I'm just saying I don't think things are so easily fixed like we think they are.

Listen man I'm just trying to keep hope alive like the thread title is telling me to

 

[MahvelBaby!]

New more realistic scenario:

Everything I want just magically happens.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Listen man I'm just trying to keep hope alive like the thread title is telling me to

I know, I just don't see Apple as this great savior. This is not like the Disney deal for 20 Century Fox where is pretty much a certainty that once cleared we were going to get what we wanted in regards to the comic book character rights. We're still talking about a third party in this equation and that offers its own set of variables. So I'm a little more hesitant to see this as a solution

 

[The forest gate]

That ultimately doesn't mean anything. If you're asked a question, you have to answer it. If you're asked are you going to sell your company, you have to answer it.

Was he asked or did he include it in a speech?