*Facepalm*
Marvel, as we know it, is a hugely successful multibillion-dollar business that is responsible for a plethora of blockbuster movies that pulled in, and continue to pull in, vast amounts of cash. But things weren’t always going so well.
According to The Wall Street Journal, twenty years ago, Marvel was so badly in need of investment that studio head Ike Perlmutter actually floated the idea of selling the movie rights to its entire collection for an unbelievable, bargain basement price of just $25 million.
Sony, who were only interested in Spider-Man at the time, amazingly turned down the offer and opted to spend $10 million on the rights to Spider-Man alone. That’s right, apparently for the sake of an extra $15 million they turned down the rights to the likes of Iron Man, Thor and Black Panther.
Ouch.
Obviously, the Spider-Man franchise has been hugely successful for Sony, so all is not lost. But still. $15 million. That’s gotta sting.
