On the first day of CinemaCon 2023, the first footage from “Kraven The Hunter” was shown. Kraven started off in Marvel Comics Spider-Man books, but has yet to be included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Normally, he is shown as a former Soviet soldier who takes his love for hunting just a touch too far. For example, he wants to collect Spider-Man’s head to prove he is the greatest hunter alive.
For Sony / Marvel Studios‘ upcoming “Kraven The Hunter” film, Aaron Taylor-Johnson will be bringing the character to life.
First-look footage was shown at CinemaCon, and it was just as bloody as you’d expect. Taylor-Johnson sports Kraven’s classic cropped leather vest and great hair. He slices through his victims, normally with primitive claw-shaped weapons. At one point we even see him rip the flesh off someone’s neck with his teeth and spit it out.
“Kraven the Hunter” will be “a Marvel movie grounded heavily in the real world,” Taylor-Johnson said. “We know he is a fierce hunter, a highly trained killer.”
When asked if the film would be rated R Taylor-Johnson gave an enthusiastic response of “Fuck yeah, it will be rated R.” This caused a huge wave of applause in the Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, where the convention is being held. This is a huge win since most comic book films, at least pre-2016’s “Deadpool,” try to shy away from R ratings to reach a wider market.
Licensing rights to Kraven the Hunter are currently owned by Sony Pictures. Meaning he exists in that weird legal space between Marvel Studios and Sony, alongside Spider-Man, and the Venom franchise with Tom Hardy. Sony was also responsible for launching the much memed “Morbius” film starring Jared Leto.
The film will have Taylor-Johnson starring along with Oscar winners Russell Crowe and Ariana DeBose, as well as Christopher Abbott (“Girls”) and Alessandro Nivola (“The Many Saints of Newark”). “Kraven the Hunter” is directed by J.C. Chandor (“A Most Violent Year”). The film is written by Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, and Richard Wenk. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach will produce.
Its set to hit theaters October 6th, 2023.
