Now That This Marvel Bomb Has Become a Streaming Sensation, It’s Time To Use the Character Properly In the MCU

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The sixth and concluding film in the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU), titled “Kraven the Hunter,” was intended to establish a cinematic universe centered around Spider-Man films, but without the character of Spider-Man himself. Preceded by movies like “Morbius” and “Madame Web,” “Kraven the Hunter” underperformed at the box office and garnered widespread negative reviews from both critics and audiences. To make Kraven the protagonist, the scriptwriters had to stray significantly from the original comic book storylines. The film’s lead actor, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, characterized Kraven as an anti-hero, protector of nature, and Spider-Man’s main adversary; however, Marvel fans noted that these descriptions do not align with Kraven’s characteristics in the comics. Upon its release, “Kraven the Hunter” was criticized for a dull narrative, mediocre visual effects, weak dialogue with noticeable ADR, and a lack of engaging content due to its association with Sony’s other underperforming films. Given the poor reputation of the SSU, which included only the moderately successful “Venom” trilogy, many fans had already dismissed “Kraven the Hunter” before it hit theaters.

The story didn’t stop there for Kraven the Hunter. To everyone’s surprise, it kept appearing on Netflix’s most watched films list for several weeks running. This unexpected popularity might be due to people’s morbid curiosity or a desire to watch some unintentionally funny scenes. Despite its flaws, Kraven outlasted Madame Web in the rankings, suggesting there was genuine interest in the character. Thus, there’s a strong case for Kraven to reappear on the big screen in a better film. Rumors suggest that Sony might be open to renegotiating their deal with Disney since many of their previous attempts have failed. The fourth Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man movie, titled “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” is slated for release in 2026. Given the lack of details about this film, Kraven could potentially be its main villain or appear in a future Spider-Man installment.

Kraven the Hunter is One of Spider-Man’s Oldest Villains

In 1964, the character Sergei “Kraven” Kravinoff made his first appearance in issue #15 of The Amazing Spider-Man. Throughout the years, the specifics of his reasons for action have varied, but the fundamental aspects have remained consistent. Kraven was a hunter who thrived on excitement and pursued big game, however, he became so proficient that no creature in the wild could match his skill level anymore. Upon discovering Spider-Man, who had previously encountered various challenges, Kraven saw him as a more intriguing quarry and resolved to track him down for the hunt.

Kraven is often portrayed as following a distorted sense of honor; while he doesn’t shy away from taking lives, he prefers to engage in a fair combat with a worthy opponent. He often resorts to guns, but his preference lies in using a simple spear or even fighting hand-to-hand. Due to a mysterious concoction made from herbs, Kraven boasts enhanced physical abilities, yet he remains essentially human, which makes his battles against Spider-Man even more remarkable.

In the past, the creative minds behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe have shown an inclination towards incorporating Kraven. Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther, had considered Kraven as a potential adversary for T’Challa. Although Kraven isn’t typically a nemesis to Black Panther, his frequent hunting trips in Africa and the animal-themed nature of Black Panther align with Kraven’s style. However, at that time, Disney didn’t own the rights to Kraven, so Coogler opted for Killmonger instead – a decision that likely proved beneficial, as Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Killmonger quickly made him one of the most beloved villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As the gamer who’s always up-to-date on Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) news, I must say that Jon Watts, the director of my favorite Spider-Man trilogy, had planned to incorporate Kraven in one of his films following the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home. In an interview post-release, he hinted at this intention. Later on, Spider-Man actor Tom Holland revealed that the initial concept for Spider-Man: No Way Home was a Kraven-centric storyline, though details were kept under wraps to preserve potential future use of those ideas. However, the focus eventually shifted towards the multiverse in No Way Home, bringing back villains from previous Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi and Marc Webb, although plans for Kraven didn’t quite materialize then. With two unsuccessful attempts to introduce Kraven into the MCU, here’s hoping that the third time’s a charm!

Kraven the Hunter Would Challenge Spider-Man in a Unique Way

An opportune moment in Spider-Man’s narrative arises, making the introduction of a foe like Kraven quite fitting. Post the occurrences of No Way Home, Peter finds himself alone with no allies to rely on. This isolation might push him towards his role as Spider-Man, overlooking his personal life’s sorrows. In this scenario, Kraven serves a thematic purpose, as he does not view Spider-Man as an individual but merely a beast to be hunted.

Kraven’s fixation on the hunt mirrors Peter’s dedication to his duties as Spider-Man, both characters submerging themselves in their work and losing touch with their human side. The stark realization that he is emulating Kraven might serve as the catalyst for Peter to comprehend the significance of his civilian identity alongside his superhero persona. It could be through forming new bonds that he overcomes the menace of Kraven.

In the MCU’s interpretation of Kraven, he might draw influence from a game that intertwined his battles with Spider-Man, specifically the Black Suit saga. This narrative also featured the Symbiote, which amplified Spider-Man’s aggression and violence, a trait Kraven found appealing due to his frustration over Spider-Man’s tendency to hold back in fights. In this iteration, Kraven was gravely ill, seeking a grand battle instead of a slow, agonizing death. The Symbiote almost led Spider-Man to fulfill Kraven’s wish, but Miles Morales intervened, preventing him from becoming murderous. Although the Symbiote might not be ready for introduction in the MCU just yet, given the upcoming release of ‘Brand New Day’ before ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, Kraven could still provoke Spider-Man to act on his darker instincts. The game also introduced the concept of Kraven hunting down some of Spider-Man’s villains as preparation for their final encounter, which could be a potential follow-up to the Scorpion tease in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’, if Watts decides not to use Scorpion as the main antagonist.

Sony and Marvel Have a Complicated Relationship Regarding Spider-Man

Discussing the possibility that Kraven, portrayed by Taylor-Johnson in Sony’s universe, might be recast in the MCU instead of continuing with the same actor. The multiverse complications seen in No Way Home and upcoming Avengers movies could potentially allow for the integration of Kraven from Sony’s universe into the MCU. Moreover, the MCU has a history of reusing actors from previous Marvel franchises, as evidenced by Taylor-Johnson who played Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, even though he was a different version of the character compared to the one seen in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. The upcoming Avengers films demonstrate that a single actor can portray multiple characters within the MCU. However, it seems more appropriate for the MCU to recast Kraven as Taylor-Johnson’s performance as Kraven was not his strongest role, and there is little interest among fans to see his version of Kraven go up against Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.

Moving forward, given that the movie depicted Kraven as an anti-hero instead of a typical villain, it might feel unusual for him to switch roles. A new actor could breathe life into this character and make a lasting impact on Kraven’s legacy. However, whether or not Sony will let Kraven appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains unclear. While Sony has been protective so far, there have been instances of crossovers between their universe (SSU) and the MCU, like Eddie Brock appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s possible that Sony might consider closer collaboration with the MCU as a viable option for their live-action Spider-Man films, given their current uncertain state. Despite this, animated projects such as Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse are still in development. If Sony were to collaborate more closely with the MCU, it would be thrilling to see Kraven featured in a high-quality film rather than Kraven the Hunter.

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2025-05-29 20:13