Stan Lee’s daughter claims Marvel and Disney bosses ‘disrespect’ the legend and his legacy
THE LATE Stan Lee’s daughter has criticised executives at Marvel and Disney in the wake of the battle over the rights to ‘Spider-Man’, claiming they have “never shown him or his legacy any respect or decency”.
Sony Pictures bought the film rights to the iconic Marvel Comics character — who was co-created by Lee and writer/ artist Steve Ditko in 1962 — in 1999 but in 2015 made a deal with Disney, who own Marvel, to allow Peter Parker and his webslinging alter ego to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, resulting in him featuring in five films, including blockbuster ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and most recently ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.
But this week Sony Pictures hit a stalemate with the studio over the financing and profit-sharing of the future ‘Spider-Man’ movies, leading to the exit of Marvel boss Kevin Feige from the franchise, and the breakdown means that Spider-Man will no longer feature in the MCU.
Now, Lee’s daughter Joan Celia Lee claims that the deal fell apart because bosses didn’t show enough respect for her father’s work and legacy.
Speaking to TMZ, she said: “Marvel and Disney seeking total control of my father’s creations must be checked and balanced by others who, while still seeking to profit, have genuine respect for Stan Lee and his legacy. Whether it’s Sony or someone else, the continued evolution of Stan’s characters and his legacy deserves multiple points of view.” — BANG Showbiz