Sony debuted new footage from Kraven: The Hunter at the 2024 Comic Con Experience, after previously debuting the opening eight minutes of the film earlier this week. Directed by J. C. Chandor, Kraven: The Hunter stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the title character, with Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, and Fred Hechinger in supporting roles. It is slated for release on December 13, 2024.
At CCXP 2024, spectators at the Sony panel were greeted by a clip of Taylor-Johnson introducing the first few scenes in the film. This portion of the film, which showcases Kraven breaking out of prison, was already public, but after its conclusion, Chandor introduced a few more scenes from Kraven: The Hunter.
Firstly, Kraven is shown intercepting a group of six hunters on private property and taking most of them out. The screen then transitioned to a goon reporting to his boss that Kraven will not be a problem, only to realize Kraven is sitting in his boss's chair. Kraven says he is going to use the boss's ledger to cross names off of, then he shoots the goon.
In the next clip, audiences see Hechinger's character, Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon, playing "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles, as Russell Crowe's character, Nikolai Kravinoff, looks on. Dmitri dedicates the next song to Nikolai, and subsequently, a shootout happens. Afterward, Nikolai insults Dmitri for being a coward and only defending himself. Kraven is then seen tracking a black van with Dmitri inside. Dmitri is knocked out in the scuffle and taken to a helicopter, which Kraven successfully fights his way to latch onto.
Another clip shows Nikolai and Kraven discussing Dmitri's apparent kidnapping, with Nikolai saying he does not want to pay up to get him back because it shows weakness. The father and son argue a bit, ending with Nikolai admitting that he wants Dmitri back, he wants "both [of his] sons back." The final scene shown is an action sequence showcasing Kraven's skills as a variety of traps set off as he brawls.
Overall, these scenes paint a picture of Kraven as an action-packed adventure. Given Kraven's character, this is a fitting way to adapt him to film; that is, aside from actually having him as a Spider-Man antagonist. Kraven: The Hunter follows in the line of Sony Marvel adaptations featuring Spider-Man adjacent characters but not the hero himself.
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Sony has a shot to make Kraven the Hunter into something truly special, and judging by the first eight minutes, they might have finally done it.
Unfortunately, the only minor success this franchise saw was with Tom Hardy's Venom trilogy, which concluded on a low note this year. Other entries such as Morbius and Madame Web also fared poorly critically and commercially. With no other confirmed live-action films on the horizon, Kraven: The Hunter may be the last film in the franchise for a while.
The CCXP footage paints an interesting picture of Kraven: The Hunter. The way Taylor-Johnson portrays Kraven is animalistic and brutal, which may strike a chord with fans. Alternatively, turning a classic Spider-Man villain into an anti-hero could be just another misstep by Sony. If the rest of the movie lives up to its action sequences, it might just recoup its $110-$150 million budget - provided the word of mouth is positive.
Kraven the Hunter explores the origin story of Sergei Kravinoff, known as Kraven, as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with his father, Nikolai. This path of vengeance sets Kraven on a journey to become a formidable hunter with a reputation for fearsome brutality.
Director J.C. Chandor
Release Date December 13, 2024
Runtime 127 Minutes
Budget 130 million
Main Genre Adventure
Sony's Upcoming Marvel Movie Release Dates
Release Date December 13, 2024
English (US) ·