How Kraven the Hunter Can Redeem Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

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As a seasoned movie buff who has weathered the storm that is the modern superhero film landscape, I can confidently say that Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has been a rollercoaster ride, to put it mildly. From the highs of Venom to the lows of Morbius and Madame Web, the bar for quality storytelling in this universe has been set so low that even a housefly could clear it.

The Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has faced difficulties taking flight; even the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) managed to have one franchise perform consistently well, while other SSU attempts were labeled among the weakest superhero films ever made. The upcoming SSU film, Kraven the Hunter, is scheduled for release in theaters, but will it surpass the underwhelming performances of Morbius and Madame Web? Given the low standards set by previous movies in the universe, it’s crucial that Kraven the Hunter delivers a strong showing to help propel the larger Spider-Man universe forward.

To put it plainly, while it’s undeniable that the three Venom films aren’t exactly masterpieces in terms of art, they do manage to keep viewers engaged. From a financial perspective, these movies were profitable for Sony. However, with the Venom Trilogy ending on a less-than-spectacular financial note (despite Venom: The Last Dance making a decent profit), the focus now shifts to Kraven to see if Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) can thrive beyond solo adventures. Interestingly, after five films, this Spider-Man Universe is more about Venom and his companions rather than Spider-Man himself, suggesting that a better title for the franchise might be “Venom and Friends.

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So how can Kraven the Hunter redeem Sony’s Spider-Man Universe? Here are a few ideas…

Bring in Spider-Man

Revamping the phrase into simpler and more conversational language:

In my perspective, the Venom Trilogy came the closest to incorporating Spider-Man by featuring some brief footage in the post-credits scene of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. This paved the way for the post-credit revelation in Spider-Man: No Way Home that Tom Hardy’s Venom made a leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). So far, these cameo scenes haven’t led to any significant developments, but they might in the future. Nevertheless, if a collaboration between Spider-Man and Venom were to occur, it would more likely take place within the MCU, rather than Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.

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The advantage for Kraven the Hunter lies in its more compelling marketing assets compared to Morbius and Madame Web trailers. However, there’s uncertainty if the cautious audience will attend, given that these aren’t Venom-related SSU films, despite being potentially successful. Word-of-mouth can play a crucial role here, and the key to generating positive word-of-mouth is by ensuring the movie stands strong on its own merits and has a distinct identity.

Lean Into the R-Rating

In a more relaxed style, the Venom movies opted for a PG-13 rating, which, considering Sony’s cautious approach to capitalize on their Spider-Man Universe starter, was likely a wise choice. However, this decision may have negatively impacted the quality of the films. On the other hand, Kraven the Hunter is ripe for an R-rated comic book adaptation, and thankfully, that’s exactly what we’re getting.

The film may follow a more conventional path regarding its content, even with its rating, but it’s unlikely to be as violent as “Deadpool 2.” It might lean towards the style of “Deadpool” and “Wolverine,” although it should be noted that these films are still quite graphic. However, the box office success of these three movies shows that a restrictive rating doesn’t necessarily limit a superhero movie’s earning potential.

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It’s plausible that Sony is more optimistic about the prospects of “Kraven the Hunter” than they were for “Morbius” and “Madame Web”. Firstly, Kraven is a relatively well-known character compared to these two. Second, there’s a strong team both in front of and behind the camera. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been garnering praise lately with his performances in “Bullet Train” and “The Fall Guy”, and he also stars in the upcoming “Nosferatu”, which early reviews suggest could be one of the best horror films in recent years and even an Oscar contender. The screenplay is penned by Richard Wenk, who worked on the “Equalizer” trilogy, and the duo Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, known for their work on “Iron Man” and “Punisher: War Zone”. Lastly, “Kraven the Hunter” is directed by J.C. Chandor, who has previously made critically acclaimed films like “All Is Lost”, “A Most Violent Year”, and Netflix’s “Triple Frontier”, indicating his ability to balance character development with intense action scenes.

We’ll find out how well “Kraven the Hunter” performs with audiences once it’s released, but it seems likely that its box office results will be somewhere between those of Morbius (and Madame Web), and Venom. Keep in mind that despite possibly having a lower opening than Morbius, it will have the advantage of playing throughout the holiday season.

Kraven the Hunter has a release date of December 13th.

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2024-12-09 21:10