The news that Spider-Man negotiations between Disney and Sony Pictures have fallen through, resulting in the announcement that Spidey is set to leave the MCU, has shocked Marvel fans. With Far From Home having made more than $1 billion at the box office and Tom Holland’s Spidey seemingly being positioned as a key part of Phase 4, most assumed that the two companies would easily work something out. But it hasn’t proved that simple, with Disney apparently asking for 50% of the profits from any future Spider-Man movies and Sony straight-up saying no (this does seem a little greedy of the Mouse House, given that Sony Pictures currently funds the solo films themselves).
Whatever the case, MCU fans have promptly gone bananas. A vicious Twitter campaign has been launched against Sony Pictures, which has included threats of violence, and there’s also been the usual petitions and threats of boycotts, with some fans going so far as to start campaigns against the PlayStation console as well. But now, in perhaps the most dramatic protest against Sony’s decision, a group of people are planning to storm Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, with the Facebook page for the event informing us that they’re set to “storm Sony Pictures in solidarity dressed in Spider-Man costumes and bring our boy home!”
As of writing, the event has 1,300 people attending and another 1,200 people interested. Obviously, this is somewhat tongue in cheek – taking after the recent popularity of the storm Area 51 event. Still, I wouldn’t put it past fans to actually try some kind of Spider-Man protest at Sony Pictures Studios, if only to create some bad publicity for the company.
If I were them though, I’d hold onto their hats. I’m betting these two companies will eventually be able to work something out, given the amount of money each of them will be leaving on the table. And even if they don’t, at least we can finally see Holland’s Spider-Man go up against Tom Hardy’s Venom.