Credit: Marvel StudiosForget about Iron Man, is it “Morbin’ Time” again?
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The story of Peter Parker, a native of Queens, and the timeless lesson “with great power comes great responsibility” is widely recognized. Numerous actors have brought New York City’s beloved Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to life in various film adaptations, all inspired by the rich Marvel Comics legacy crafted by visionaries Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
The Spider-Man film saga started with Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, which spanned from 2002 to 2007 (and may return in the near future). Andrew Garfield subsequently assumed the role of the web-slinging hero in The Amazing Spider-Man series, beginning in 2012 and followed by The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014.
Under Kevin Feige’s leadership at Marvel Studios, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has a unique arrangement with Sony, facilitated by their parent company, The Walt Disney Company.
Tom Holland portrays the latest iteration of Peter Parker, encountering reimagined versions of classic characters like Aunt May, love interest MJ, best friend Harry Osborn, and villains such as the Green Goblin/Norman Osborn, Doc Ock/Doctor Octopus/Otto Octavius, and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin.
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Holland debuted in The Walt Disney Company’s Marvel Studios’ MCU with Captain America: Civil War in 2016, followed by the solo film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017. Currently, Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker is on hiatus, with Spider-Man 4 set to bring the hero back into the MCU following the mind-wiping events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
Following the much-memed flop Morbius (2022) starring Jared Leto as Michael M. Morbius, and the financially disastrous Madame Web (2023), starring Fifty Shades of Grey franchise lead with Dakota Johnson as Madame Web/Cassandra Webb/Cassie Webb, the Sony Spider-Man Universe is perhaps finally getting a more explicit Spidey tie.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Fate
According to a known anonymous source on Marvel Studios films, Cryptic HD QUALITY, it appears as if an SSU film is finally getting an explicit name-drop — tying the universe of the upcoming Sony Spider-Man Universe film Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor Johnson as the eponymous Kraven/Sergei Kravinoff, directly to a Spider-Man.
Led by director JC Chandor and features a screenplay by Richard Wenk, along with the writing team of Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.
Technically, both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker(s) technically reside in the SSU, but Sony has been careful to keep each movie in their cinematic continuity separate from each other, merely hinting at being in the same (or similar) Spider-Man universes. For example, Madame Web‘s Cassie Webb being friends with a young Ben Parker, Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben.
When asked by fan Mark Butler on X/Twitter whether Spider-Man or Morbius would appear in Kraven, the source responded:
Mark Butler: Will spiderman and morbius appear in kraven?
@Cryptic4KQual: I heard Spider-Man has a name drop in it. An appearance though? Not too certain…from either characters.
I heard Spider-Man has a name drop in it. An appearance though? Not too certain…from either characters.
— Cryptic HD QUALITY (@Cryptic4KQual) June 29, 2024
Considering that no other movies set in the SSU are currently known, it appears that Sony might finally be giving up on pumping out Spider-Man-adjacent movies with no stakes or connection.
The studio’s two remaining SSU films, Venom: The Last Dance (2024), AKA Venom 3, debuting October 25, and Kraven the Hunter, dropping December 13, 2024, might finally be Sony’s chance to give fans what they want until the inevitable push for the Marvel Studios joint venture, Spider-Man 4 starring Tom Holland in the lead role.
Who Will Star in Kraven the Hunter?
So, if Spider-Man is finally being mentioned in the SSU, according to this report, who else has been confirmed to show up in the upcoming film?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven
The first on this list goes without saying for this “action movies” style romp.
Sergei Kravinoff AKA Kraven the Hunter is a big-game hunter from the Spider-Man rogues’ gallery in the Marvel Comics. Despite his Marvel comic book origin being one of the original members of the Sinister Six and hell-bent on hunting down Spider-Man to prove he is the best hunter in the world.
Often hunting Black Panther and Tigra in the comics, this iteration of Kraven will take a bit of a different twist, however, as the character has been described as a conservationist, a “protector of the natural world,” and an “animal lover” by Taylor-Johnson himself. Levi Miller will portray a young Sergei.
Ariana DeBose as Calypso
Fresh off her stint in 2021’s Steven Spielberg movie West Side Story, DeBose has also recently lent her voice to Asha in Disney’s Wish (2023).
Here, straight from the Marvel comic world, Calypso will similarly be a voodoo priestess and a love interest for Kraven.
Fred Hechinger as Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon
Kraven’s estranged half-brother, who is a master of disguise.
The Chameleon, real name Dmitri Smerdyakov, is one of Spider-Man’s earliest and most persistent foes in Marvel Comics. As the half-brother of Sergei Kravinoff, also known as Kraven the Hunter, Dmitri’s abilities stem from his expertise in impersonation, utilizing advanced technology, makeup, and costumes to mimic anyone. Over time, he gains the ability to alter his appearance at will through genetic manipulation.
In the comics, the Chameleon is the reason for Kraven’s obsession with finally hunting down Spider-Man.
Alessandro Nivola as Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino
A Russian mercenary who can transform into a human-rhino hybrid.
Marvel fans might remember another iteration of Marvel Comics’ Rhino — In the Amazing Spider-Man 2 film by director Marc Webb, the character Aleksei Sytsevich, also known as the Rhino, was portrayed by Paul Giamatti. In this film, Aleksei Sytsevich is initially introduced as a Russian mobster and later dons a mechanized suit, transforming into the Rhino. The character is portrayed as a formidable, albeit somewhat comedic, villain who poses a significant threat to Spider-Man.
Christopher Abbott as the Foreigner
Known for his extraordinary combat skills and hypnotic ability to appear faster than the eye can follow, the Foreigner remains an enigmatic figure with an unknown real name. He has a complex relationship with Silver Sable and frequently clashes with Spider-Man.
Russell Crowe as Nikolai Kravinoff
Nikolai Kravinoff is a pivotal figure in Marvel Comics, known as the father of Sergei Kravinoff (Kraven the Hunter) and Dmitri Smerdyakov (the Chameleon). His strict and often abusive parenting significantly shaped his sons’ paths as villains, contributing to Sergei’s obsession with hunting and Dmitri’s psychological issues.
Although Nikolai appears mainly in flashbacks or backstory-centric issues, his character is essential for understanding the complexities of Kraven and the Chameleon.
Who are you most excited to see in Kraven the Hunter? Will you be watching in theaters? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!