Sony Has Found Its Kraven The Hunter, And He's Already A Marvel Star
There's no denying that Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe is the premier big-screen take on Marvel Comics' band of heroes and villains. However, Disney isn't the only major studio with Marvel names at its creative disposal. For instance, Sony retains the rights to Spider-Man — a character it shares with Marvel Studios — as well as his rogue's gallery and associated do-gooders. They collectively make up the groundwork of the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, a franchise dedicated to bringing some of these names to the forefront without the webhead who connects them all.
So far, Sony has found mild success with a relatively limited roster. The 2018 Venom solo flick became a resounding financial success, paving the way for its sequel, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," to arrive at the movies in late 2021. Additionally, a film focusing on Morbius the Living Vampire is coming down the pipeline too, with former Joker Jared Leto playing the bloodthirsty doctor. Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Sony's super-powered cinematic vision since more famous names are getting spotlights of their own in the future.
As reported back in 2017 (via The Hollywood Reporter), Sony has plans to bring famed Spider-Man villain Kraven the Hunter into live-action via his own motion picture. J.C. Chandor is in the director's chair, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, and Richard Wenk are penning the story, and the project has finally found its lead in a popular MCU alum.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson completes his superhero hat trick
From the moment Marvel fans caught wind that a Kraven the Hunter-centric movie was on the way, the internet lit up with speculation. From the DCEU's Deathstroke, Joe Manganiello, to John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, the masses didn't shy away from expressing their dream picks for the gig. Well, the guessing games, fan-casting, and wishful thinking can finally come to an end, as CinemaBlend broke the news that Aaron Taylor-Johnson is Sony's selection to take on the classic Spider-Man foe.
Though he wasn't a vocal favorite for the part of Kraven, Johnson's two previous efforts in the superhero genre make him a solid choice nonetheless. His first foray came in 2010 for "Kick-Ass," where he played the titular vigilante, doing so once again in 2013 for the aptly-named sequel, "Kick-Ass 2." Only two short years later, he made the jump to the MCU for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" as Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver — Wanda "Scarlet Witch" Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) brother who's killed by several gunshot wounds in the final act of the film.
Both of these characters are vastly different from Kraven the Hunter, who's known for the ruthless yet cunning demeanor that he has boasted since his introduction on the pages of 1964's "Amazing Spider-Man" #15. Be that as it may, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a talented actor and will surely provide moviegoers with a fresh and entertaining take on the role. We'll just have to wait and see how his rendition of Kraven pans out when his movie premieres on January 13, 2023.