Kraven the Hunter’ marks the fourth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Sergei Kravinoff a.k.a. Kraven, a classic Spider-Man villain, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and a founding member of the Sinister Six, was teased in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). In Marvel Comics, Kraven is depicted as a Russian nobleman whose family was compelled to immigrate to America in 1917 due to the February Revolution. Kraven became an obsessive big game hunter and, after mastering the sport, made Spider-Man his target in an effort to establish himself as the world’s best hunter. In 2014, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 director Marc Webb indicated an interest in seeing the character in a movie.
After several years of considering a Kraven movie, Sony became interested in a standalone film for the character in 2017. Richard Wenk was then hired to write a screenplay for Kraven the Hunter in August 2018 and Sony confirmed that the film was in development in March 2019. Surprisingly, before learning that Sony owned the cinematic rights to Kraven, filmmaker Ryan Coogler had wanted to feature the character in his MCU film Black Panther. The upcoming movie will thus give Kraven a well-deserved introduction to Sony’s shared superhero universe. After several years of considering a Kraven movie, Sony became interested in a standalone film for the character in 2017. Richard Wenk was then hired to write a screenplay for Kraven the Hunter in August 2018 and Sony confirmed that the film was in development in March 2019. Surprisingly, before learning that Sony owned the cinematic rights to Kraven, filmmaker Ryan Coogler had wanted to feature the character in his MCU film Black Panther. The upcoming movie will thus give Kraven a well-deserved introduction to Sony’s shared superhero universe.
When is Kraven the Hunter Release Date?
Kraven the Hunter was previously scheduled to release on January 13, 2023, and on October 6, 2023.
However, due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the film was delayed 10 months until August 30, 2024.
Is There a Trailer for Kraven the Hunter?
The first trailer for Kraven The Hunter was released on June 19, 2023. The three-minute trailer reveals that the film will be an origin story for the hunter. Seeing a young Kraven encounter a mighty lion only to gain animal-like powers is an interesting twist on the Spider-Man mythos.
Kraven the hunter Cast Spectulation?
For the character of Kraven, Sony approached celebrities including Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, John David Washington, and Adam Driver. However, the producers swiftly decided to cast Aaron Taylor-Johnson after being blown away by the first trailer for the movie Bullet Train. Taylor-Johnson agreed to play Kraven in a number of movies that would come after Kraven the Hunter. He is most known for playing the title character in Kick-Ass and its sequel as well as Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Jodie Turner-Smith was initially rumored to be playing the role of Calypso, but in March 2022 it was announced that Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose would instead be taking on the role. She is Kraven’s love interest and a voodoo priestess who uses magic potions. In Marvel Comics, Calypso is typically portrayed as Spider-Man’s adversary. Fans can anticipate that the filmmakers will explore the couple’s romantic relationship in the movie. DeBose received tremendous acclaim for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Additionally, she played Alyssa Greene in Ryan Murphy’s musical movie The Prom and Emma Tate in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmig doon.
Alessandro Nivola was recently revealed to be playing the film’s main villain, the iconic Spider-Man villain the Rhino. The character was previously portrayed by Paul Giamatti in 2014 in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but Nivola’s take on the Rhino will be much different. With a vast list of acting achievements, Nivola is most known for his role as Nicolas Cage’s brother Pollux Troy in John Woo’s 1997 film Face/Off. He starred alongside Christian Bale and Margot Robbie in David O. Russell’s Amsterdam in 2022, as well in the comedy Spin Me Round alongside Alison Brie and Aubrey Plaza. His other well-known films are One Percent More Humid and The Red Sea Diving Resort.
Kraven the Hunter Plot Speculation?
As Sergei Kravinoff embarks on a quest to establish himself as the best hunter in the world, Kraven the Hunter will follow his life narrative.
The official plot synopsis via Sony Pictures reads:
Kraven the Hunter is the visceral story about how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Set before his notorious vendetta with Spider-Man, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular character in the R-rated film.
Will Kraven the Hunter Be in Theaters or Streaming?
Kraven the Hunter will be released exclusively in movie theaters on August 30, 2024.
The film will eventually be available to stream on Netflix after its theatrical window as well as after it hits video-on-demand and home video. This is thanks to a deal that was struck between Netflix and Sony back in April 2021 which gives the streaming service the exclusive pay-one window for new films from Sony.
