Spider-Man may not be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe much longer: Sony hint departure following Homecoming 2

Turbulent times for Spider-Man fans ahead as Sony and Marvel’s marriage may end sooner than previously thought.

The two companies are currently working together to bring the web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Tom Holland’s character debuting in Captain America: Civil War and returning for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

While Holland’s appearance in the upcoming Avengers films and a Homecoming sequel are guaranteed, that may be where Spider-Man’s MCU journey ends.

Speaking after Sony’s Cinema Con, former chief of Sony Pictures and Homecoming producer Amy Pascal said Sony, Marvel, and Disney may never work together again following the sequel .

“One of the things that I think is so amazing about this experience is that you don't have studios deciding to work together to make a film very often,” she said, as picked up by Comic Book News. “In fact, it may never happen again, after we do the sequel.”

She then seemingly realised what had been said and backtracked slightly, saying in one lengthy breath: “Because Sony and Disney and Marvel all decided that the right thing to do was to allow Peter Parker and Spider-Man to be in the MCU, and to work with the Marvel guys and have them produce this film, and I think that was a very rare thing for three companies to do and a very brilliant thing for them to decide to do because there are only so many stories that you know you can tell again and again and again about Spidey, and this is something that we would never been able to do in any other way.

She concluded: “So, it was a very selfless thing that was very smart on the part of all the companies.”

Whether selfless is the word for three companies looking to make millions at the box-office is the right word is debatable, but fans will likely be disappointed if Holland’s version of the character doesn’t hang around the MCU for another few years.

What’s perhaps more, though, is Sony’s intent to release Venom next year - an unassociated Spider-Man spin-off based on the infamous villain. Could the company be planning to introduce yet another version of Spider-Man later in that series?

Whatever the case, for now, we have the second trailer for Homecoming to enjoy. The film reaches cinemas 7 July.