Summary
Kraven the Hunter’s promotional campaign has begun once again, and I can’t help but worry about the direction of theMarvelmovie from Sony.Sony’s franchise built from Spider-Man characters has been very hit or miss, with theVenomfilms performing well commercially, while the rest of the universe has failed. Still,everythingknown aboutKravensuggests a dark, violent, and exciting film with a distinct R-rated edge. While the studio has worked hard to show confidence in the product they’ve made, several details suggest that this might not be the case behind closed doors.
Sony’s universe of Spider-Man characters needs another win. While theVenomfilms have been successful,Morbiuswas a massive miss for critics and audiences, andMadame Webis arguably one of the most bafflingly inept superhero movies ever made.Following these failures, Sony really needs one of their Marvel films to connect. They have worked hard on this film and are trying to introduce iconic characters and images which, at least when compared to theRhino inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, may be effective. Still, I can’t help but worry.
Kraven the Hunter Cast & Marvel Character Guide
Kraven the Hunter, part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, introduces various Marvel villains played by veteran superhero actors and rising talents.
Kraven The Hunter’s Latest Trailer Released In The Middle Of The Night
The New Trailer Was Posted Online At 3AM ET
Unusually, the latest trailer forKraven the Hunterwas released at 3AM ET. Given the importance of trailers as perhaps the most effective marketing tool for a film,it is unusual for a promotional clip to be released at an hour when most of the domestic audience is not awake to view it.The release of superhero trailers have become events, withrecord-breaking movie trailerstypically releasing at a time when the largest audience can watch. This is howDeadpool & Wolverine’s first trailer being shown during the Super Bowl led to a $1 billion gross for the film.
Granted, this is a small concern. While trailer views are important, they do not necessarily translate to box office success.Renfieldhad the third-most watched trailer of 2023, but the movie was a box office flop with a $26 million gross.Trailers were primarily made to play in movie theaters, and this is still where much of the public sees what attractions will be coming. I am trying to stay positive, so while this is not a great sign, it is not necessarily a terrible one either, but might simply point to antiquated marketing strategies.
Sony’s Marketing For Kraven The Hunter Has Been Weird
The First Trailer Was Released In June 2023
Following the trailer’s release, it’s notable that the marketing forKraven the Hunterhas been unusual. The first promotional push for the film came out of CinemaCon in April 2023, where the first trailer was shown.This trailer was released in June of that year, whenKravenwas scheduled for release in October 2023, and showed the first hints of the Rhino character.A year later, following several delays of its release date, the Rhino character has now been fully revealed in a new trailer, suggesting that perhaps all of the film’s surprises may already be in the marketing.
Kravenappears to be a strange reimagining of the Spider-Man villain that imbues him with the powers of the animals he hunts. He has catlike eyes and appears to fight ruthlessly to take down poachers.The film has already released two trailers that seem to have the same focus.Many of us feel this film has already come and gone due to the long delays. There does not seem to be enough meat on the bone for the film to justify a marketing campaign of nearly two years.
Has Sony Changed Tactics After Madame Web?
Madame Web Was A Box Office Disaster
Following the failure ofMadame Web, Sony may be in a place of desperation. Notably, the marketing for that film only included a single trailer, indicating little faith in a film that inverted familiar iconography withan evil Spider-Man.The marketing forMadame Webdid not show much confidence in the film, and that was clearly the correct outlook.However,Kraven the Hunterremains important to the Sony brand, and the studio must begin to show more materials to build confidence soon.
Since the first trailer and a series of delays, there has been little talk aboutKraven the Hunter. This could be concerning. However, the film is still several months away, and there is still time for a full marketing campaign to come through. After all,Spider-Man: No Way Homealsohad a December release, and the first trailer for that film did not release until August 23 of that year.Besides,Kravenhas an excellent cast, including Russell Crowe and Ariana DeBose. While things do not look good, there are some reasons I am holding onto hope forKraven the Hunter.
Kraven The Hunter’s December Release Could Be A Sign of Confidence
Some Of The Biggest And Best Movies Are Saved For The End Of Each Year
Following a series of delays from the first announced release date of June 08, 2025,Kraven the Hunterwas ultimately moved to a release of June 09, 2025. While a December release might suggest confidence in the film, as studios generally release big, crowd-pleasing works during this time,I can’t help but be reminded of the tumultuous production ofAquaman: The Lost Kingdom, which also faced several delays before securing a December 2023 release.WhileThe Lost Kingdomwasn’t a travesty, it was not beloved and seemed only moved to that date to capitalize on higher theater attendance trends.
IfKravenflops, the whole franchise, excludingVenom, will have been a disaster for the studio.
Typically in December, audiences have some faith in the movies they’re seeing, and the studios have paid off that faith by releasing crowd-pleasing fare.Star WarsandAvatarfilms have cleaned up on December releases, andKraven the Hunterwishes to follow that success. However,while a December release can signify confidence in the film, it can also suggest desperation, as this is the only other Sony Spider-Man movie that the studio has. IfKravenflops, the whole franchise, excludingVenom, will have been a disaster for the studio.
Another R-Rated Marvel Movie Is Coming Out This Year & I’m Even More Excited After Deadpool & Wolverine
There’s a second R-rated Marvel movie releasing in 2024, and it is thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine that I now feel more hyped than ever.
I don’t know ifKraven the Hunterwill be good, but I certainly hope that it is. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is an excellent performer, andboth of the trailers for the film have promised an interesting look at the iconic Spider-Man villain that has not yet been realized in live-action.I would have preferred a Spider-Man sequel that saw the villain taking on the iconic hero, but perhapsKraven the Huntercan change my mind and convince me that this was the right choice for the villain.
Kraven the Hunter
Cast
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.
