The exact specifics of the historic deal between Sony and Marvel to share Spider-Man are as complex as you'd imagine billion dollar contract law can get. However, the general gist is that Sony still own the rights, but Marvel can use the hero. That's a victory for both sides; Marvel get to use Spidey in their movies, thus improving the already impressive box office, as well as getting a boost to merchandising sales (they'll make official tie-ins now), while Sony have a reason why people should care about Spider-Man again. Given how successful Marvel already are without Peter Parker, however, the skew is definitely towards down-on-their-luck Sony. Especially when you consider that it's generally assumed they still have creative control on the stand-alone movies, so have more power over what happens with the character. Although the state of the X-Men is a lot better than that of Spider-Man - Days Of Future Past made more at the box office than Captain America: The Winter Soldier - things could only be improved by teaming up with Marvel; there's no way the box office takings of both franchises wouldn't increase. And if a deal between the two parties was anything like Sony's, then Fox could continue to use the X-Men as they have while also getting the additional interest being an MCU players gives. They'd be silly not to. Do you think the X-Men will ever join the MCU? Share your theories down in the comments.
