Spider-Man is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He hasn't just yet, but he will be appearing on screen alongside Avengers characters in the very near future thanks to a recently announced partnership between Disney's Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures that will see the studios share certain comic book characters and blend together their movie franchises going forward.

The deal allows Sony to reboot the struggling superhero series once again, possibly with the title The Spectacular Spider-Man, but this time with the backing of Marvel HQ. And while it's all but certain that the new Spider-Man will appear in Captain America: Civil War next year before getting his own solo movie in summer 2017, rumors and speculation point towards the possibility of a cameo appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron this summer since that's Marvel's biggest release (and marketing tool).

Assume for a second that the Sony-Marvel deal, which had been reported on for well over a year, actually happened a while ago, even before The Amazing Spider-Man 2 became The Amazing Disappointment last May. What if Andrew Garfield's beloved Peter Parker (he wasn't the problem with the series) could have done what so many fans wanted to see him do, and join up with The Avengers? What if Garfield's web-slinger was actually a lead hero in Avengers: Age of Ultron?

[Click to enlarge]

Spider-Man in Avengers 2 Trailer

Well, the latest Avengers 2 trailer would have looked a little more like what's up top: a fan-made trailer via IGN that cuts in a few brief sequences featuring Spider-Man, including one of him fighting Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor and another of him swinging into battle alongside the core six Avengers in the trailer's most memorable comic book panel shot (above).

The latest rumors not only reveal a potential title for the next iteration of Spider-Man but indicate that Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man may have a significant role to play. Drew Goddard, originally slated to write and direct the Sinister Six spinoff for Sony may helm the first new Spider-Man movie which will be produced by Sony's ex-boss Amy Pascal and Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige.

[Click to enlarge]

Avengers 2: Age of Ultron Wallpaper (Feat Spider-Man) - by SteamBlust

Captain America 2 & 3 directors Anthony and Joe Russo (who are also frontrunners to direct The Avengers: Infinity War) may produce Spider-Man as well in a three-year deal they've just signed with Sony which we expect may also involve Spider-Man joining Civil War in a big way.

Ready to see Spider-Man suit up (for real) with Marvel's other big heroes?

_____________________________________________

More: The Avengers 3 Places Spotlight on Spider-Man

_____________________________________________

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill and Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron releases in theaters on May 1 2015, followed by Ant-Man on July 17 2015, Captain America: Civil War on May 6 2016, Doctor Strange on November 4 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on May 5 2017, Spider-Man on July 28, 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on November 3 2017, Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 on May 4 2018, Black Panther on July 6 2018, Captain Marvel on November 2 2018, Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2 on May 3 2019 and Inhumans on July 12, 2019.

Source: IGN

Art by SteamBlust