Kraven the Hunter (film)

## Sony's Spider-Man Universe

*"My son, never show mercy. They are prey. We are predators"*
―Nikolai Kravinoff to Sergei Kravinoff
***Kraven the Hunter*** is a 2023 superhero adventure film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is the seventh film in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe, and the first installment of Phase Two. The film was released on April 24, 2013, internationally and on May 3, 2023, in the United States.

The film is directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter, Ariana DeBose as Calypso, Fred Hechinger as Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon, Alessandro Nivola as Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino, Christopher Abbott as Foreigner, and Russell Crowe as Nikolai Kravinoff.

## Synopsis

Set before his notorious vendetta with Spider-Man, *Kraven the Hunter* is the visceral story about how and why one of Marvel's most iconic villains came to be. From a simple man to the greatest hunter the world ever knew.

## Cast

* Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter
	+ Levi Miller as Young Sergei Kravinoff
* Ariana DeBose as Calypso Ezili
* Fred Hechinger as Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon
* Alessandro Nivola as Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino
* Christopher Abbott as Foreigner
* Russell Crowe as Nikolai Kravinoff
* Murat Seven as Ömer Aksoy
* Yuri Kolokolnikov as to-be-confirmed character
* To-be-confirmed actor as Mr. Tackling

## Appearances

### Locations

* Earth
	+ London, England
		- After Midnight
	+ Russia
		- Kravinoff Mansion

### Items

* Kraven the Hunter's Suit
* Kraven the Hunter's Arsenal
* Kraven the Hunter's List
* Bulletproof Vest

### Creatures

* Spiders
* Wolves
* Eagles
* Foxes (corpse)
* Cattle (corpses, statue & paint)
* Rhinos (statues & mentioned)
* Goats (statue)
* Lions (flashbacks)
* Horses (depiction; vision)

### Organizations

* Costa Coffee
* Portlands
* BMW (logo)
* Mercedes-Benz (logo)

### Mentioned

* Sergei Kravinoff's Mother
* Jurewicz (tomb)
* Death

## Production

In June 2017, it was revealed that Sony Pictures Entertainment was considering a film based on Kraven the Hunter. *The Equalizer* writer Richard Wenk was hired to write an screenplay for the film in August 2018 while Antoine Fuqua was being eyed to direct the film by October of that same year. According to Wenk, the film will take inspiration from the *Kraven's Last Hunt* storyline.

Wenk has confirmed too that Spider-Man was featured in an early draft of the film's script, having a direct encounter with Kraven. Whether he will be featured in the finished film is currently unclear, though it's a possibility. Coincidentally, *Black Panther* director Ryan Coogler originally wanted to include Kraven in his MCU film during the early days of production, but was unable as Kraven's film rights belong to Sony.

On August 21, 2020, *Deadline* announced that J.C. Chandor would be helming the film as director, and that a new script will be written by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.

On February 8, 2021, Sony had offered Keanu Reeves the role. This was up to him to accept or decline. However, after a week he had reportedly declined the role.

On May 26, 2021, it was revealed on TheWrap that Aaron Taylor-Johnson will play the character, in said article was also revealed the currently planned release date of January 13, 2023. On the same day, it's been reported that multiple actors besides Keanu Reeves were approached by Sony to lead the role, these being Brad Pitt, John David Washington and Adam Driver.

On July 28, 2021, it was reported that Sony was eyeing Jodie Turner-Smith in the role of Calypso, confirming the character's participation in the film.

On January 18, 2022, it was reported that the film will begin production in the UK this coming February assuming no delays.

On February 9, 2022, *The Hollywood Reporter* reported that Russell Crowe was casted in an undisclosed role.