There is little doubt that Kraven the Hunter is one of Sony’s most prominent releases following the success of the Spider-Man films. After all, it also happens to be the fourth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) that would focus on a villain. So, will the Aaron Taylor-Johnson movie become the studio’s next Venom? Or is it destined to suffer the same fate as 2022’s Morbius?
Kraven the Hunter was first announced in 2017 and began filming in early 2022, right after Aaron Taylor-Johnson was confirmed for the titular role. However, the standalone project was, like Venom, met with multiple delays, mostly due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes earlier this year. Nevertheless, Sony Pictures is standing by the project, and there are hopes for the movie actually turning in a huge profit despite the studio’s previous failure with Morbius in 2022.
Sony Confirms Kraven the Hunter as Major Priority After Strikes
Following a period of delays, the Kraven the Hunter film is reportedly poised to move forward once the SAG-AFTRA strike concludes. The strike has temporarily disrupted various facets of the film industry, and several projects have been put on hold during this time. Kraven, however, finds itself in a unique position, having already completed a significant portion of its production. Only minor reshoots and ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) work remains to finalize the film for its much-anticipated theatrical release.
Sony, the studio behind the project, remains steadfast in their commitment to Kraven the Hunter and intends to carry out the necessary finishing touches once the strikes are resolved.
A significant point of contention in recent negotiations between striking actors and the studios revolves around streaming residuals. The final outcome of these discussions holds the key to the film’s future, similar to the past few months when the release was repeatedly postponed.
The urgency to release Kraven the Hunter expeditiously is driven by Sony’s desire to recoup their investment in the project. This urgency is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the film’s success, which may not be as guaranteed as initially anticipated.
Will Kraven the Hunter Match Venom‘s Box Office Success?
Venom proved to be a major unexpected success for Sony Pictures. Despite facing critical reviews, the film emerged as the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 2018, amassing a staggering $856 million globally. It also established various box office records for an October release.
Subsequently, a sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, hit theaters on October 1, 2021, and continued the franchise’s prosperous journey. The sequel achieved box office triumph, raking in $506.9 million worldwide and securing its place as the seventh highest-grossing film of 2021.
There is little doubt that Sony intends to repeat this success with Kraven the Hunter. After all, the upcoming film already has much of the same formula, from its lead star, who conveniently embodies the character, to the repeated delays in its release date.
However, Kraven must still prove it has the right storytelling formula to become a box-office hit. With that in mind, people are undoubtedly curious if the new antihero will manage to avoid being the next Morbius.
Kraven the Hunter, directed by J. C. Chandor with a screenplay by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway, from a story by Wenk. It stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the title role alongside Ariana DeBose, Russell Crowe, Fred Hechinger, Christopher Abbott, and Alessandro Nivola. The film was initially set to hit theaters in October this year but has been delayed for next year. Catch the next Marvel antihero as he makes his live-action debut on August 30, 2024.
