MOVIE NEWS – Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the leading man in Kraven the Hunter, remains hopeful that audiences will demand more of the titular antihero, even as Sony Pictures appears ready to abandon the franchise. After years of efforts by directors like Sam Raimi, Marc Webb, and Jon Watts to integrate Kraven into Spider-Man films, Sony shifted gears to develop an origin story for the character, following the standalone formats of Venom and Morbius. Taylor-Johnson was cast in mid-2021, but the film faced repeated delays. Now, as the movie finally approaches its release, the buzz around it is barely audible.

Speaking at the New York premiere of Kraven the Hunter, Taylor-Johnson expressed confidence that viewers would want to see more, hinting at a potential sequel that may never come to fruition. Addressing the audience directly, he said:

“This first movie is for everyone — the audience. Come see it, and by the end, I think you’ll want more. The decision is yours; it’s all in your hands now.”

Taylor-Johnson’s statement followed recent reports that Sony might be pulling the plug on its Spider-Man character-centric cinematic universe. Despite being referred to as the Spider-Man Shared Universe (SSU), the franchise struggled to maintain momentum. While Venom enjoyed a strong start at the box office, subsequent films like Morbius and Madame Web garnered scathing reviews and underperformed financially. Kraven the Hunter now seems poised to be the franchise’s swan song, potentially concluding Taylor-Johnson’s portrayal before it has a chance to develop.

Is There a Future for ‘Kraven the Hunter’?

Taylor-Johnson’s optimism about fans wanting more from Kraven the Hunter might feel misplaced, given the critical response. The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score hovers at a dismal 15%, narrowly surpassing Madame Web’s 11%. Box office projections are equally grim, with opening weekend revenue expected to fall between $13 and $15 million. With scathing reviews and poor initial earnings, Kraven the Hunter appears destined to be overshadowed by upcoming animal-themed blockbusters like Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Nonetheless, time often turns even the most reviled films into nostalgic curiosities. Consider Jennifer Garner’s recent return as Elektra in Deadpool & Wolverine, which was warmly received despite her 2005 solo outing being widely regarded as a low point for superhero movies, scoring even worse than Kraven the Hunter. Perhaps decades from now, if superhero films remain popular, Taylor-Johnson could make a cameo appearance in a faithful comic adaptation, earning cheers from a newfound audience.

Source: MovieWeb