Sony and Marvel to partner on Spider-Man movie

A stunt man dressed as Spider-Man, poses during a photo call for the film "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" at the Empire State Building in New York April 25, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sony Pictures and Marvel Studies have reached a deal to partner on the next installment of the $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, uniting the web-slinging superhero with Marvel's comic book universe. Kevin Feige, president of Walt Disney Co's Marvel Studios, will co-produce the next film set for July 2017 release with Sony's Amy Pascal, according to a statement from the firms. Under the agreement, the Spider-Man will also appear in an upcoming Marvel film, and Marvel characters, which include Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, could appear in later Spider-Man films, the statement said. Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Sony Corp, will continue to own the cinematic rights to Spider-Man, a Marvel superhero, the statement said. "Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel's world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes," the statement said. (Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Writing by Curtis Skinner; editing by David Clarke)