The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is known for being a playground with endless possibilities. Superheroes crossing paths, joining forces, and taking down a villain, all of this has been a staple in Marvel’s ever-expanding world. And we have patiently waited for another such crossover, between Daredevil and Spider-Man.
Now that Daredevil: Born Again is on the horizon, fans were hopeful about the web-slinger’s cameo in the show. But recent news has suggested that the reunion won’t be possible anytime soon, and here’s why!
Why Spider-Man can’t swing into Daredevil: Born Again?
Marvel has always been generous in doing fan service unless there is some complicated reason behind why they cannot pull off a storyline on screen. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man won’t appear in Daredevil: Born Again, but not because the studio lacks creative desire or doesn’t see the narrative potential. This time around, it’s a matter of legal jargon that keeps us from experiencing one of the most anticipated reunions.
In an episode of the Phase Hero podcast, Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum explained that Spider-Man’s rights are owned by Sony, which restricts them from using him in their live-action shows. He said, “They [Sony] have long-form television rights… he can do like 30-minute animation.”
So the character can appear in an animated series like Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, but live-action shows like Daredevil: Born Again are out of the picture. This leaves many fans disappointed, especially after Matt Murdock’s cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This time around, they wanted the web-slinger to team up with the vigilante of Hell’s Kitchen, possibly a scene where they both don their suits and take down an enemy.
Sony’s Spider-Man strategy has been a double-edged sword
Sony’s tight grip on Spider-Man is the reason that he’s only limited to the big screen, even when he has such an integral role in the MCU. His absence in the show highlights just how complicated it can be when two companies share intellectual property, and ultimately, it’s the fans who suffer due to the licensing barrier.
But Sony’s control over the character’s television rights is just one piece of the puzzle because the studio must release a new Spider-Man project every few years to maintain its ownership (via Forbes). So while the Tom Holland franchise has been a massive success, other spin-offs and projects have suffered immensely.
However, the setbacks aren’t stopping the studio from churning out more Spider-Man-related material as they are driven by contractual obligations. Now, even though Sony is making efforts to keep the rights, they struggle to cater to the audience and critics.
So, we can only dream of seeing Spider-Man in Daredevil: Born Again because Sony’s licensing restrictions and contractual obligations have created a barrier that Marvel cannot overcome. But even if this possibility is far from our reach, fans are still excited to experience Matt Murdock’s journey as he’s one of the most nuanced and well-written characters in the franchise.
Daredevil: Born Again will premiere on Disney+ on 4 March 2025.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
