30 Sec Answer: Spider-Man is not on Disney Plus because of an ongoing dispute between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios over the ownership rights to the character.
Introduction
Since its launch in November 2019, Disney Plus has become one of the most popular streaming services in the world. With a vast library of classic and contemporary films and TV shows from across the Walt Disney Company’s many brands, it’s no surprise that millions have subscribed.
One thing that fans have noticed about Disney Plus is that there is something conspicuously missing – Spider-Man! After all, he is one of the most beloved characters in comic book history and a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). So why isn’t he available to stream on Disney Plus? Let’s take a look.
Why Does Sony Pictures Own The Rights To Spider-Man?
Spider-Man first appeared in comic books published by Marvel Comics back in 1962. Since then, he has become an iconic superhero, with his likeness appearing everywhere from video games to toys.
However, unlike other characters in the MCU such as Iron Man or Captain America, who are owned outright by Marvel Studios/Disney, Sony Pictures owns the film rights to Spider-Man and several related characters. This means that Sony can produce movies featuring these characters without having to get permission from Marvel/Disney.
How Did Sony Get The Rights To Spider-Man?
In 1999, Marvel was facing bankruptcy due to mismanagement and overextension of its resources. In order to stay afloat, they sold off the film rights for some of their key characters – including Spider-Man – to different studios. Sony purchased the rights for Spider-Man and related characters for a reported $10 million dollars.
What Is The Current Dispute Between Sony & Marvel?
The issue at hand is this: while Sony currently owns the rights to make movies featuring Spider-Man and certain related characters, they do not own the actual character himself. That right remains with Marvel/Disney – which puts them at odds when it comes to producing new content featuring him.
Sony wants full control over any movie featuring Spider-Man – meaning they don’t want to have to ask Marvel/Disney for permission or approval every time they want to make changes or create new stories involving him. On the other hand, Marvel/Disney wants more creative control over how their flagship character is portrayed onscreen.
What Does This Mean For Disney+?
As a result of this dispute, neither party is willing to budge when it comes to placing any new Spider-Man movies on Disney+. Until this conflict is resolved one way or another, we won’t be seeing any new web-slinging adventures on the streaming service anytime soon.
That said, you can still find several classic animated series starring Spidey on Disney+. These include “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” from 1981 and “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” from 1994. So if you need your fix of wall crawler action while waiting for a resolution between Sony and Marvel – those should keep you busy!
Conclusion
It looks like we may be waiting awhile before we see any new live action Spider-Man movies appear on Disney+. But until then, fans can enjoy some classic animated series starring everyone’s favorite web slinger on the streaming service – so all hope isn’t lost!
