Kraven the Hunter: Release date, cast, plot, trailer, more
Sony PicturesKraven the Hunter is set to hit cinemas next year, so here’s everything we know about the movie so far, from its release date to its cast, plot, and more.
Kraven the Hunter, directed by J. C. Chandor, was a surprising choice for a Spider-Verse film, as he is one of the slightly lesser known Spider-Man villains.
However, considering how popular the Venom movies have become – both ironically and unironically – it seems like Sony is hoping for another hit. One that will be very violent, with star Aaron Taylor-Johnson revealing that the movie will be Sony’s first R-rated Marvel movie while introducing footage at Cinema-Con.
The Marvel villain movie has now finished filming – which includes being shot entirely on location – and there’s plenty of news surrounding the upcoming project. So here’s everything we know about the film, from its release date to its cast and plot, and more…
Kraven the Hunter release date: When is it coming out?
Kraven the Hunter is set to be released by Sony and Marvel on August 30, 2024. The release has been pushed back several times, most recently due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
This is the first solo film to feature Kraven, but the iconic hunter has actually been a plan for Sony for years. Kraven was first set to appear in the fourth Sam Raimi Spider-Man film, and then he was teased in the rebooted Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, once the series got rebooted again, Sony had to go back to the drawing board, and here we are.
Kraven the Hunter cast: Who is starring in the new film?
UPDATE: New footage at Cinema-Con has revealed that Alessandro Nivola is playing Rhino in the movie. His skin even turns rhino-like in the sizzle reel that played at the Sony panel.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (of Kick-Ass and Bullet Train fame) has been cast in the titular role, AKA Sergei Kravinoff. Furthermore, the actor has signed on to portray Kraven in future films, meaning that sequels are also possible, should this movie do well.
Other cast members include Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, West Side Story) who will be playing Calypso, a voodoo priestess and potential love interest for Kraven.
Fred Hechinger (Fear Street, Eight Grade) will be playing another Spider-Man villain, known as Chameleon, who has the ability to change his appearance at will. It’s likely he’ll be a target for Kraven to hunt.
Christopher Abbot (Catch-22, Black Bear) will be playing yet another Spider-Man villain – this film is full of them – called the Foreigner, who has trained himself to be a world-renowned martial artist and assassin. While Levi Miller is appearing in an as-yet-unspecified role.
Thanks to that Cinema-Con footage, we also now know that Russell Crowe is playing Kraven the Hunter’s father.
Finally, it’s not impossible Spider-Men will appear, especially Tom Holland. Since Sony and the MCU collided in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Venom: Let There be Carnage, it seems like anything could happen when it comes to superhero cameos. And according to Screen Rant, Holland isn’t ready to say goodbye to Spider-Man yet, and wants to continue his story in the Sony universe.
Kraven the Hunter: Is there a trailer?
The first official trailer for Kraven the Hunter dropped on June 19 and can be seen below:
The trailer shows that this movie will take a different approach to Kraven’s hunting ability from the Sony game, as he gains the powers of an apex predator after being bitten by a lion on the hunt.
The movie pits Kraven against his father, a ruthless mercenary, as Kraven seeks revenge after being left for dead.
Kraven the Hunter plot: What will happen in the film?
So far, the official plot of Kraven the Hunter is unknown. But the story will naturally follow Kraven, who is a Russian Game Catcher, and who wishes to track down Spider-Man in order to truly become the world’s best hunter.
In this film, it could be possible that he is more of an anti-hero here rather than a villain, similar to how Venom and Morbius were portrayed.
According to the film’s screenwriter Richard Wenk, Sony intends to adapt the comic book series Kraven’s Last Hunt at some point, so some thought that this might play in this plot.
In Kraven’s Last Hunt, Kraven seemingly kills Spider-Man and takes his identity. And then when Spider-Man returns, Kraven pits Vermin – a rat-like mutant that he’s captured – against the hero. To make things even darker, when Vermin almost kills Spider-Man, Kraven stops the mutant before retiring from his hunting days and dying by suicide. It’s a gripping story, considered to be one of the best Spider-Man stories out there.
But according to Esquire, Chandor’s movie takes place before Kraven and Spider-Man’s first meeting. It’s said to be “about young Sergei’s relationship with his gangster father, played by Russell Crowe.” That being said, the director and Taylor-Johnson went on to tell the outlet that the character’s “grim comic-book fate defined their approach to the film.”
“Sony probably doesn’t want me to lead with this, but the story is a tragedy,” explained Chandor. “When the final credits roll on this film, if you’ve been paying attention, you won’t have the feeling that this is all going to end great.”
As for the trailer that screened at Cinema-Con, IGN reported: “The footage had a ton of gruesome kills in it as Kraven is seen taking out poachers and mercs alike.” The outlet added: “There is a very brief shot of Sergei holding up the classic fur costume Kraven wore in the Marvel comics.”
We’ll be sure to keep this page updated as and when new information rolls in.
Updated with Cinema-Con info on April 25, 2023.
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