There's a new Spider-Man coming to New York, and moviegoers will likely meet him in May 2016 when Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters. That's right, Marvel's beloved web-slinger is coming home!

In an unprecedented, landmark deal, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have come to an agreement that couldn't make fans happier: Spider-Man is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's going to be a new take on the character, meaning a new actor (sorry, Andrew Garfield) and an entirely new Spider-Man movie coming in July 2017. Sony previously was planning for a Sinister Six movie for 2016, with other potential spinoffs before The Amazing Spider-Man 3, but those ideas have been put to rest.

Marvel boss Kevin Feige and soon-to-be-ex-Sony-boss Amy Pascal will be co-producing thew new Spider-Man venture and after the character makes his introduction in the MCU, he'll get his own movie on the release date previously held by Thor: Raganarok. To fit it in, Marvel's Phase 3 plans - as announced in October 2014 - have now shifted back to accommodate the change with the exception of the third and fourth Avengers installments which will hold their summer opening dates in 2018-19. Four movies change dates.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 3 Timeline
The original Phase 3 timeline

As it currently stands, here's what Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe look like (also included are the remaining chapters of Phase 2):

Phase 2

2015

  • May 1, 2015 - The Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • July 17, 2015 - Ant-Man

Phase 3

2016

  • May 6, 2016 - Captain America: Civil War
  • November 4, 2016 - Doctor Strange

2017

  • May 5, 2017 - Guardians of the Galaxy 2
  • July 27, 2017 - Spider-Man
  • November 3, 2017 - Thor: Ragnarok

2018

  • May 4, 2018 - The Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1
  • July 6, 2018 - Black Panther
  • November 2, 2018 - Captain Marvel

2019

  • May 3, 2019 - The Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2
  • July 12, 2019 - Inhumans

And for those wondering, reports indicate that Sony's current plans for a 2016 Sinister Six have been postponed as they determine where to take the franchise next - now with the help of Marvel - after a new Spider-Man (not played by Andrew Garfield) is introduced.

The big question now is how Marvel will handle Inhumans since they won't debut until after the Infinity War saga but have already been introduced in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC. Marvel Comics readers are likely very ware of how important the Inhumans are to the major space-heavy crossover events (War of Kings, Realm of Kings, Infinity, Inhumanity) over the last half a decade so it's foreseeable that Phase 4 could setup another Infinity War-size event where they play a crucial role at the forefront.

Throw in the new Spider-Man who will undoubtedly be cast with a super long-term contract, and we can already begin piecing together what heroes will form the Marvel Studios phase 4 roster.

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Original Report: Spider-Man Joins The Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Source: Marvel