Spider-Man: Homecoming producer Amy Pascal has explained that Peter Parker may not be hanging around in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for all that long.

It was something of a landmark deal when Sony and Marvel partnered to allow Spider-Man (the rights for which lie with Sony) to appear in MCU films. That deal seems to have an end date, however. Speaking to CosmicBookNews, the former Sony chief explained:

“One of the things that I think is so amazing about this experience is that you don’t have studios deciding to work together to make a film very often. In fact it may never happen again, after we do the sequel [to Spider-Man: Homecoming]."

While Pascal's comments don't rule out the possibility of an extension to the deal, they do seem to confirm that Sony and Marvel's current deal ends after the second Spider-Man solo movie in 2019.

That deal currently encompasses Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, the untitled 2019 Avengers follow-up, and the Spidey solo sequel.

Sony's clearly got at least some plans for an MCU-free future, working on two unconnected films in the Spider-verse; a Venom standalone film and a Black Cat-Silver Sable team-up. It will also release an animated film starring Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales in 2018.

Whether that deal continues is likely down to the success of Spider-Man's future appearances - although the real question is whether Sony will want to extend or end the partnership if Peter Parker becomes a huge box office draw in and of himself.

It all begins with Spider-Man: Homecoming, which will be released on July 6 in Australia and July 7 in the US and UK.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he at least wants to see an MCU Mysterio before it's all over. Follow him on Twitter.