Re: New Spider-Man Movie in MCU (July 28, 2017)
There are many worrisome aspects about Sony having some creative input into the MCU. My faith in the prospect is founded solely on my faith in Kevin Feige to get the right things done. I don't think he would have green lit the project if it could derail the MCU.
I agree that there is no way in hell Marvel Studios is going to allow its comic film juggernaut to be derailed by Sony's mismanagement of a single character. I expect they'd kill the deal before allowing that to happen. Too much money is at stake.
Add me to the list of those disappointed by this. I love the way the Marvel Movie Universe has come together which has allowed minor comic characters to shine... I think adding Spider-Man to that mix will disrupt that balance. Spidey has always worked best as a solo character for me - and while he has worked well in some situations (his relationship with Johnny Storm comes to mind), he's been best as a loner.
I understand his importance to Civil War - but, I looked forward to seeing a more minor character take that role and shining because of it.
I also felt that the last two Spider-Man movies were terrible (with ASM2 - outside of Garfield's well played Spidey - was the worst). I think some guidance from Marvel on this upcoming movie will help out his solo stuff considerably. I look forward to Spidey being recast, while Garfield was solid in costume, I thought his Peter Parker left a lot to be desired. Likewise, Emma Stone was great... but, I still think she would've been a better MJ than Gwen.
I'm less familiar with the Civil War storyline (I'm kinda burnt out on multi-title year-long crossovers at this point), but I agree that Spidey has always been more of a loner character. Well, not a
loner, but rather that he worked better as a standalone character who only occasionally interacts with other Marvel heroes, and usually those local to the New York area like Daredevil, or other lower-tier heroes who'd run into him like The Punisher. He's not part of any team, or at least wasn't from the 1960s up through the 1990s, I think, so, his overlap with other characters would seem to be less about actual involvement with them, and more about them all being in NYC at the same time to fight...something. Spidey is usually battling individual villains, or maybe a small group of superpowered villains, rather than some organization like HYDRA or galactic threats like Thanos. Sure, if the Chittari attack NYC, he'll be there saving people, but otherwise, he's busy dealing with the Kingpin and Hobgoblin and their ilk.
And I definitely agree that the last two (actually the last three if you include the final Raimi film) Spidey films have been...weak. Garfield was generally solid, and I think could've played a good Peter Parker if given a better script, and Emma Stone would've been an excellent Mary Jane (but did ok as Gwen Stacy). Really, I think the ASM films were just...not very well told stories. But the actors could've done well.
All that said, I think it's still possible for this new film to do well, given the people involved in it, assuming Sony doesn't muck it up.
Along those lines, I'm really, REALLY hoping we don't get yet another origin story for this film. Do it in the credits, the way they did for The Incredible Hulk or the second (or third?) Raimi Spider-Man film, and just show Spidey in action. Maybe reference how he was there in the background during the invasion of New York, but just focus on the new story rather than telling the same one we've seen TWICE now.