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By Bloomberg

Sony Corp. is returning Spider-Man to the brotherhood of Marvel Comics superheroes, in a deal to collaborate with Walt Disney Co. on future films.

Kevin Feige, who heads the Disney’s Marvel Studios, and Amy Pascal, the outgoing co-Chairman of Sony Pictures, will co- produce the next “Spider-Man” movie in July 2017, according to a statement from the Culver City, California-based unit of Sony on Monday. The superhero will appear earlier in an unnamed Marvel film, and the companies will look for ways to bring other Marvel characters into Spider-Man films.

The deal ends more than a decade of isolation for Spider- Man, part of Sony’s film lineup since Marvel was independent. Disney acquired Marvel in 2009 and, under Feige’s supervision, has made several blockbusters with characters such as Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. By bringing in a competitor to help revive its most-valuable franchise, Sony gains Marvel’s expertise and tie-ins to its other characters.

“This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” Michael Lynton, chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in the statement.

Sony Pictures will continue to own the Spider-Man films and have final creative say. The studio will finance and distribute the pictures, which have grossed more than $4 billion worldwide since 2002.

The agreement with Sony means Disney will push back four of its Marvel movies. “Thor: Ragnarok” moves to November 2017 from July 2017, taking the spot of “Black Panther,” which moves to July 2018. “Captain Marvel” is now slated for November 2018, and “Inhumans” goes to July 2019, Disney said in a separate statement.

Bringing Spider-Man into the Marvel cinematic universe “opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building,” Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of Burbank, California-based Disney, said in a statement.