Following Sony Pictures’ double dose of success with October’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage and December’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, the studio is looking to build its Spider-verse in a big way. After Morbius’ release in April, next on the list for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is Kraven The Hunter, which will bring one of Spidey’s most powerful villains into live-action for the first time.
Set for release in January 2023, Kraven the Hunter is still in the early stages of development as part of Sony’s growing superhero movie slate.
Rumors have pointed to this movie introducing major players like Chameleon and Calypso into the narrative, which all comes with the potential to see Spider-Man actually play a role in this universe as well. How this connects with Sony's other anti-heroes in Venom and Morbius remains to be seen, but the potential for this universe to expand is certainly coming to light.
For the past couple of months, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been the only confirmed member of Kraven the Hunter's cast as he takes on his second Marvel role following his appearance in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now, news is teasing another comic book movie veteran joining the fray, and another Marvel veteran at that.
Russell Crowe Joins Sony's Kraven Movie
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Russell Crowe has joined the cast of Sony Pictures' Spider-Man spin-off movie Kraven The Hunter.
Crowe joins former MCU star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the only cast members announced. Crowe's role in the film has yet to be revealed, although THR notes that many supporting characters in the movie will be Kraven's own family members.
This marks Crowe's second role in a Marvel production, as he will be playing Zeus in Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder, which debuts on July 8, 2022.
From DC to Marvel to Sony for Crowe
Although Kraven the Hunter still has plenty of work to do before it even begins shooting, Sony is making sure that the film's cast meets the same standard as the ones from its early outings.
Russell Crowe is no stranger to the superhero movie genre. having played Superman's father Jor-El in 2013's Man of Steel, the film that kicked off the DC Extended Universe. Nearly a decade later, he's set to play the MCU's Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder, although it's unclear at the moment how big his role will be alongside Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and more.
With Kraven the Hunter giving the classic Spider-Man villain his own in-depth solo story, Crowe should have the chance to take on a meaty supporting role alongside Taylor-Johnson for Sony. It should be some time before his role is officially revealed, but his experience alone should only add a level of clout for Kraven's cast of characters.
With just under a year until Kraven the Hunter releases, it shouldn't be long before the cameras begin rolling for Taylor-Johnson, Crowe, and the rest of the unannounced cast. More information on the story and characters shouldn't be too far behind once that kicks off.
Kraven The Hunter is set to release in theaters on January 13, 2023.
