I just want to post a rumor that's been laying around for about a week now.
No specific source, and I'm not sure if ti's credible, but posting it for possible discussion reasons.
Everyone know how everyone is getting into the streaming game. Part of the reason for the FOX acquisition by Disney for Disney+.
NBC has "Peacock", Apple has ApplePlus/+ or whatever it's called.....
Well the rumor was that Amazon was really pushing to purchase Sony Pictures and Animation studios to bolster Amazon Prime with more original content. Apparently Sony denied trying to sell, and that supposed deal never happened.
Then Disney being all cozy with Apple, who is dropping Apple+, and who happens to need more studios to make more original content. Has perhaps talked Apple into acquiring Sony Pictures and Animation studios to give Apple plus an actual back catalog of content for their streaming service. And in the process of this, would revert Spider-Man rights back to Disney.
This was supposedly the reason Disney came on strong for co-financing for Spidey related films that touch the MCU. They figured they either profit now, or they hold out a year or two and make all the profit later.
Now I didn't really give this rumor all that much thought until yesterday when I saw a story about how Bob Iger stated that "If Jobs hadn't died, Disney probably would've merged with Apple."
and that made me think that maybe their cooperation lies much deeper than pleasantries at the surface would lead you to believe. I mean they do have connection through Pixar and those have only spread through DAS, the special effects studio and beyond at this point.
Anyone think there could be a little truth to this speculative rumor?
tl;dr
Disney uses relationship with Apple, and Apple's need for content for streaming service, to persuade Apple into buying Sony Pictures so that Spider-Man rights revert back to Marvel Studios for FREE.