As if Sony’s growingSpider-Manuniverse couldn’t get more exciting, the studio has brought in an Oscar-winning actor to add to the anticipation of one of its upcoming films. Russell Crowe has been announced as the most recent casting in Sony’s upcoming filmKraven the Hunter, starring Aaron-Taylor Johnson.
Before joining Sony’s ever-expandingSpider-Manmovie universe, Crowe was cast as Zeus inthe upcoming filmThor: Love and Thunder, which will be released in theaters this coming July. Even that role isn’t Crowe’s first in a superhero film. Crowe also played Jor-El inMan of Steelback in 2013, which he later reprised last year in the Zack Snyder cut ofJustice League. Needless to say, he’s not only a veteran when it comes to acting period, he’s also got plenty of experience in the superhero movie genre.
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The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Crowe joiningKraven the Hunter. However, details surrounding what role he will be playing in the upcoming film remain unknown. Eventually, those details will come out as we inch closer and closer to the film’s release, but for now all THR notes is that many of the main characters inKraven the Hunterwill be members of the titular antihero’s family. Aside from that, story and characters details forKraven the Hunterare being kept a secret.
Seeing Crowe be cast inKraven the Hunteris going to be interesting knowing the context behind it. This movie is going to be based on one ofSpider-Man’s more well-known enemiesin the comics. However, unlikeVenomin 2018, this is going to be the first time viewers will ever see the character in a live-action film. There’s already intrigue in seeing what libertiesKraven the Hunterwill take, especially if Spider-Man isn’t in it, and adding Crowe to the cast only adds to that said intrigue.
Whether the film will be good or not, Crowe has never been one to mail in a performance. Even in movies where his performance specifically was lambasted -Les Misérablesfor example - you could definitely tell he was trying his best. Whether Crowe will turn out to be the right casting or not forKraven the Hunter, fans should expect him to give it his all, knowing both his reputation and the popularity surrounding superhero movies.
But even if Crowe’s performance is as good as it usually is, that doesn’t guarantee that the movie as a whole will be good or that it will be financially beneficial for Sony. Kraven the Hunter doesn’t have nearly the same popularity that other Spider-Man villains do, like Venom andthe Green Goblin. Spider-Man is definitely one of the most popular superheroes ever conceived, but his fans usually see the movies with his villains in it if their favorite hero is in it too. Sony got away with a solo movie about Venom because he too is that popular on his own. BetweenKraven the HunterandMorbius, the folks at Sony definitely have their work cut out for them.
Kraven the Hunteris scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025.
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