Sergei Kravinoff, better known as Kraven, is one of Spider-Man’s classic villains. He was created by the legendary duo Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and is also one of the founding members of the Sinister Six, a group of supervillains that often battles Spider-Man. Kraven was briefly hinted at in *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* back in 2014.
In the Marvel Comics universe, Kraven is portrayed as a Russian nobleman whose family was forced to flee to America during the February Revolution in 1917. Kraven became obsessed with big-game hunting, and after mastering it, he set his sights on Spider-Man, hoping to prove himself as the world’s greatest hunter.
Director Marc Webb, who helmed *The Amazing Spider-Man 2*, expressed interest in bringing Kraven to the big screen back in 2014. Sony took this interest seriously and began exploring the idea of a standalone Kraven movie in 2017. By August 2018, they brought on Richard Wenk to write the screenplay, and by March 2019, Sony officially confirmed that the film was in development.
Interestingly, before realizing that Sony held the cinematic rights to Kraven, filmmaker Ryan Coogler had hoped to include the character in his Marvel Cinematic Universe film, *Black Panther*. With Sony’s upcoming movie, Kraven is finally set to make his big-screen debut in their shared superhero universe, giving this iconic villain the spotlight he deserves.
Kraven the Hunter’s release date
Kraven the Hunter is scheduled to hit theaters on Friday, December 13, 2024. This R-rated superhero movie will be competing with The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated spin-off film, on the same day.
The journey to this release date hasn’t been smooth for Kraven the Hunter. The movie has faced several delays, having initially been set for January 13, 2023, then October 6, 2023, and later August 30, 2024.
While multiple release date changes can sometimes raise red flags (as seen with The New Mutants), delays aren’t always a bad sign. In this case, the delays were used to improve the movie. Producer Matt Tolmach, in an exclusive interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, explained that the decision to move Kraven to a December release was actually a positive one. Tolmach stated:
“Kraven moved to Christmas because we’re excited about it, and Christmas is the best release period there is, with people having the time to go back to the movies over and over again. That was a real reflection of how the studio felt about the movie. We’re really excited. But that’s a great move that reflects just the feeling about the movie.”
This sentiment was echoed in a report by Deadline Hollywood, where it was mentioned that the film’s director, J.C. Chandor, used the extra time from these delays to fine-tune the characters and tighten the plot with reshoots. The decision to delay was also influenced by the disappointing performance of Madame Web, with Sony hoping that Kraven can replicate the box office success of its Venom movies.
Will ‘Kraven the Hunter’ be in theaters or streaming?
Kraven the Hunter is set to be released exclusively in movie theaters in December 2024. After its theatrical run, the movie will eventually be available for streaming on Netflix. This comes after it becomes available on video-on-demand and home video platforms.
This streaming arrangement is part of a deal struck between Netflix and Sony in April 2021, which gives Netflix the exclusive “pay-one” window for new Sony films. This means that after Kraven the Hunter finishes its time in theaters, Netflix will be the first streaming platform where you can watch it.
Is there a trailer for ‘Kraven the Hunter’?
The first trailer for Kraven the Hunter dropped on June 19, 2023, giving fans a glimpse into the movie’s take on the iconic character. The three-minute trailer reveals that the film will focus on Kraven’s origin story. One of the standout moments is a young Kraven coming face-to-face with a powerful lion, which leads to him gaining animal-like abilities. This unique twist adds an interesting new layer to the Spider-Man mythos, showing how Kraven’s powers are tied to his encounter with the beast.
Kraven the Hunter cast details
For Kraven the Hunter, Sony initially considered several high-profile actors for the lead role, including Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, John David Washington, and Adam Driver. However, they were quickly won over by Aaron Taylor-Johnson after seeing his impressive performance in the 2022 action-comedy Bullet Train. Taylor-Johnson, known for his roles in Kick-Ass and its sequel, as well as Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron, was chosen to bring Kraven to life.
In March 2022, it was announced that Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose would play Calypso, a character from the comics who is both Kraven’s love interest and a voodoo priestess. DeBose is celebrated for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and she’s also known for her performances in The Prom and Schmigadoon!. Although Jodie Turner-Smith was initially rumored for the role, DeBose secured the part.
Alessandro Nivola has been cast as the film’s main antagonist, Rhino. This character, previously portrayed by Paul Giamatti in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, will have a new take in this film. Nivola is recognized for his roles in Face/Off, Amsterdam, and Spin Me Round.
Christopher Abbott will play another antagonist, the Foreigner. Abbott is known for his roles in The Sinner and Girls, and his film credits include On the Count of Three and The Sleepwalker.
Fred Hechinger joined the cast as Dmitri Smerdyakov, also known as Chameleon, Kraven’s half-brother. Chameleon, who is Spider-Man’s first adversary in the comics, is a master of disguise. Hechinger is known for Eighth Grade, News of the World, and The White Lotus. Kodi Smit-McPhee was initially considered for the role but ultimately declined.
Russell Crowe will portray Kraven’s father, a character with a complex relationship with his son. Crowe is no stranger to superhero films, having played Jor-El in Man of Steel and Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder. Levi Miller will play a younger version of Kraven.
The film’s screenplay was written by Richard Wenk, known for The Equalizer series and The Expendables 2. He is joined by screenwriters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, who have worked on Iron Man and Uncharted. J.C. Chandor, known for Triple Frontier and All is Lost, directs the film. Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Avi Arad are producing, and Ben Davis, who has worked on films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange, is the cinematographer.
Credits – Collider
Kraven the Hunter plot details
The official plot synopsis via Sony Pictures reads:
Kraven the Hunter is the visceral, action-packed origin story of how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.