Summary
Sony's Spider-Man Universe's El Muerto spinoff appears to have been canceled.
The choice of El Muerto as a movie subject has always been perplexing, as the character is relatively unknown and doesn't match up to the popularity of other Spider-Man villains. The cancellation of El Muerto, especially after Bad Bunny's departure from the project, is perhaps the right decision, as without him, the super-powered wrestler would lose even more coherence.
Sony's Spider-Man Universe's El Muerto spinoff has received a disappointing update. Despite the focus on bringing Spider-Man's villains to life as anti-heroes in the SSU, it seems that the planned treatment for El Muerto may not be happening after all. In an interview with Vanity Fair, lead actor Bad Bunny and his publicist Sujeylee Solá seemed to confirm that El Muerto has been axed, or at the very least, Bad Bunny is no longer involved with the film. When asked about the status of El Muerto, Bad Bunny expressed uncertainty, while Solá straightforwardly stated, "Obviously, it’s out."
El Muerto's Troubled Production So Far Explained
Sony's decision to move forward with the El Muerto film has always been puzzling, considering the character's obscurity within the Marvel universe. El Muerto has only made two appearances in Spider-Man comics, lacking the popularity of notable villains like Venom, Kraven the Hunter, and Morbius, who all have significant roles in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Nevertheless, the production of the movie continued for a substantial period.
Originally slated for a January 2024 release, concerns arose when Bad Bunny announced in April that filming for El Muerto had not yet begun. Subsequently, his publicist noted that the Spider-Man spinoff movie was currently "on hold." The situation intensified in June when El Muerto's release date was removed entirely from Sony's schedule.
It appears that Bad Bunny and his publicist's comments suggest that El Muerto's indefinite delay has now resulted in the movie's cancellation. Despite some vague indications in their statements, it is possible that the actor may no longer be involved in the film. El Muerto was originally seen as an opportunity for Bad Bunny to portray a Marvel character, and his background in the WWE justified the selection of this lesser-known character for Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Without Bad Bunny, the inclusion of the super-powered wrestler would lose its coherence, hence the cancellation of El Muerto may be a favorable decision.