The “Sony Hack” emails first revealed that Sony were considering making some sort of deal with Marvel Studios over the future of Spider-Man, but it appeared as if it was never going to happen after those talks apparently broke down. We’ve seen conflicting reports since, but now the agreement has been made official!

According to a press release sent out by Marvel and Sony today, the new Spider-Man (goodbye Andrew Garfield?) will first appear in a movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before a new solo outing is released on July 28th, 2017. That will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios.

It adds that, “Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films. Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.” That basically means that Captain America could turn up in a future Spider-Man movie. Wow!

Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO, Walt Disney said: “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

“We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. “This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans.”

“Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” adds Doug Belgrad, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group President.

“I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years.” This is obviously a massive piece of news and a real game changer for Marvel.

It’s something fans have wanted for a very long time, and now that it’s finally happening, the Marvel Cinematic Universe just became even more exciting, as has the future of the troubled Spider-Man franchise.