Sony and Marvel's Kraven the Hunter is bloody, R-rated and utterly chaotic (2024)

Sony and Marvel's Kraven the Hunter is bloody, R-rated and utterly chaotic (1)

Kraven the Hunter, Sony's next big upcoming Marvel movie, is the latest R-rated adaptation of a Marvel title, and it feels like it almost had to be. While nobody needs blood with their comic book movies, Kraven arrives with the requirement of cleansing the taste of Morbius out of audiences' palates.

Kraven stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who you may remember played Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver) in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now, Taylor-Johnson's shedding the speed and mutant powers of Wanda Maximoff's brother for a bit of fur and a lot of violence.

In the comics, Kraven (real name Sergei Kravinoff) is a big game hunter who seeks to turn Spider-Man into his greatest trophy. Kraven's superhuman abilities (much like The Black Panther's) are derived from a potion made of herbs found in the jungle. He was even a founding member of the Sinister Six, who could be getting their own movie eventually.

We're still waiting on a trailer, but reports of Kraven the Hunter footage screened at at CinemaCon reveal a bit of what to expect. And that includes another famous Spider-Man villain.

Kraven the Hunter release date and reschedule

Kraven the Hunter will debut in theaters on October 6, 2023. It will be available to watch in IMAX.

This is the second scheduled release date for Kraven the Hunter, which was originally supposed to come out on January 13, 2023. No reasons have been provided for the delay, nor have rumors come out.

Kraven the Hunter is definitely rated-R

For anyone who has questions about how violent Kraven will get, Taylor Johnson has words for you. Variety notes that the star told CinemaCon (via a pre-recorded tape), "F**k yeah, it will be rated R!"

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.

Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

In the footage screened at the event, the movie clearly earns its rating, as Kraven was shown to shred "his victims viscerally, often with primitive claw-shaped weapons." On top of that, Kraven "rips the flesh off a target’s neck with his teeth and spits it out," in a moment where blood "pours freely over the screen."

Kraven the Hunter villain and Rhino news

Kraven, much like Sony Marvel movie protagonist Morbius before him, is a villain. So, there's some curiosity as to who will be the main enemy for this bad guy's movie.

A Deadline report in March 2022 may be the key to figuring that out. Sources told the outlet that Christopher Abbott (Girls) will play Spider-Man villain The Foreigner — who would be the main antagonist of the film. The Foreigner was an assassin in the comic books, and he has no superhuman abilities.

But that's not the only villain coming to Kraven, so The Foreigner may not be the ultimate big-bad for this outing. IGN reports that footage showed at CinemaCon 2023 revealed Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark, Jurassic Park III) as iconic Spider-Man villain Rhino. Specifically, the footage showed "the skin on his arm ... transform into rhino skin."

Kraven the Hunter cast info

Kraven the Hunter seems to have a solid cast, starting with lead Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular fur-donning hunter. Here's the confirmed and reported cast list:

  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven, aka Sergei Kravinoff
  • Russell Crowe as Kraven's father (confirmed by IGN)
  • Ariana DeBose as Calypso (reported by Deadline)
  • Fred Hechinger as Dmitri Smerdyakov / Chameleon, Kraven's half-brother (also via Deadline)
  • Christopher Abbott as The Foreigner
  • Alessandro Nivola as Rhino
  • Levi Miller in an unannounced role

More from Tom's Guide

  • 7 top new movies to watch on Netflix, Disney Plus and more
  • I've been watching Succession wrong — this makes it better
  • Amazon Prime Video is fixing its audio problem
Sony and Marvel's Kraven the Hunter is bloody, R-rated and utterly chaotic (2)

Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

More about streaming

How to watch 'Married at First Sight USA' 2024 online from anywhereI just watched Hulu's new Halloween movie — and it's a mind-bending ride

Latest

Netflix is getting an exciting spy thriller show this year — here's when you can watch it
See more latest►

TOPICS

No comments yetComment from the forums

    Most Popular
    Prime Video top 10 shows — here's the 3 worth watching now
    200-photo face-offs: All of our head-to-head camera phone comparisons
    New on Netflix: 5 movies and shows to watch this week (Oct 14-20)
    7 top new TV shows premiering on Netflix, Apple TV and more (Oct. 14-20)
    Apple smart glasses tipped to launch in 2027 to fight Meta with Visual Intelligence
    Germany vs Netherlands live stream: How to watch UEFA Nations League game online and on TV, team news
    NYT Connections today hints and answers — Monday, October 14 (#491)
    NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #225 (Monday, October 14 2024)
    Massive Pokémon leak reveals new Switch 2 details
    New iPhone SE 4 case leak hints at major design upgrade
    iPhone SE 4 vs iPhone 16: Why you might want to wait for the cheaper new iPhone
    Sony and Marvel's Kraven the Hunter is bloody, R-rated and utterly chaotic (2024)
    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Roderick King

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5447

    Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

    Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Roderick King

    Birthday: 1997-10-09

    Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

    Phone: +2521695290067

    Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

    Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

    Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.