Marvel-lous news! Spider-Man swinging into new Avengers films

He's the king of the swingers - but, until now, has been left to party alone.

But Spider-Man is finally getting ready to get hot and sticky with his Marvel stablemates.

Although SpiderMan is part of the Avengers universe that includes Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man, the film rights to his story have been held by Sony since 1999, so he has missed out on the huge fun (and even bigger box office success) of their recent blockbusting releases.

A huge new deal between Marvel and Sony Pictures will see Spidey finally crossing over into some of the upcoming films from the Avengers superheroes.

Last year's Amazing Spiderman 2 'only' took £465m at the global box office - making it the lowest grossing of the last five Spidey films - and executives are keen to reinvigorate the franchise for the third time.

Tobey Maguire slipped into the blue and red spandex the first time around for a blockbusting trilogy, but Brit star Andrew Garfield's subsequent films were less successful and it looks like his days as the webbed wonder are numbered.

The most likely first appearance for Spider-Man will be in next year's upcoming Captain America: Civil War.

Spidey already appears in the original comic book version of that storyline.

While the third Amazing Spider-Man has been postponed to 2018, it's looking likely that a new film, co-produced with Marvel, will now hit the big screen in the summer of 2017.

It will almost certainly feature a new leading man.

The new plans have also meant the the next Thor film has taken a hammering (sorry) in the schedules and will be moved from the summer of 2017 to November to avoid an unseemly clash.

Meanwhile, it is excitement all round at Marvel HQ.

"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.