Kraven the Hunter: The Savior Sony's Spider-Man Universe Needs?

Fans of major media franchises often lack insight into their own desires. When a beloved character is poorly portrayed, they may propose solutions without fully grasping the underlying issue. It is undeniable that Sony's Spider-Man Universe is in dire straits, attracting numerous opinions on how to salvage it. Kraven the Hunter appears to be the first step in Sony's attempt to incorporate valuable lessons learned.

Marvel and Sony have endured a lengthy legal battle over ownership of Spider-Man. Despite the success of Spider-Verse films, every endeavor by Sony involving Peter Parker has been a complete failure. Due to the constraints of intellectual property ownership, Sony will persist in hastily assembling their action figures until they come up with a sufficiently successful project to establish a cinematic universe.

Kraven the Hunter looks like what the SSU should be

The Kraven the Hunter trailer has received mixed reviews in relation to its Marvel movie identity. It strays from the typical superhero genre and leans more towards an R-rated action film, resembling Hard Target rather than the other Marvel films. This departure from the saturated market of superhero movies is a smart decision. Sony should not abandon the genre they aim to succeed in, but it is clear that their attempts thus far have fallen short. Interestingly, Kraven seems to embody the character it is named after.

Numerous studios have attempted to replicate Marvel's successful cinematic universe model, but all have failed. The problem is evident to most fans. The model seems simple and should be achievable for any capable studio. The secret lies in creating three to five well-made films with likeable characters, strategically incorporating crossover hints, abandoning unsuccessful projects, and finally bringing the characters together in a team-up movie once the foundation is established. Warner Bros., Sony, and Universal have failed because they lack the necessary patience. They rush to reach the big payday at the end of the project, overlooking the importance of creating compelling art, building audience investment, and reaping the rewards they could have cultivated. Unfortunately, their impatience results in derision, mockery, and financial disaster.

The first three SSU films went wrong

The moviegoers should not forget Morbius. It is essential that this film doesn't fade into obscurity within cultural memory. Let's continue creating memes about it and popularize the phrase "It's Morbin' time." Spread the word to children about Sony's attempt to release the movie twice, only to face disappointment yet again. Following the lackluster performance of both Venom films, Sony took the risk of bringing Michael Morbius, a relatively unknown character among fans, to the silver screen. As widely acknowledged, Morbius fails to captivate due to its monotonous and derivative nature, featuring an uninspiring protagonist and unintentionally comical scenes. The Venom movies were unable to capture the essence of the beloved character, while Morbius centers around a character that lacks widespread affection. However, there is a glimmer of hope with Kraven, who might be capable of transforming an averagely endearing character into something extraordinary.

Will Sony learn its lesson?

Iron Man, Peacemaker, and Guardians of the Galaxy all achieved immense success although their characters were not widely known initially. Movies and TV shows often serve as the first introduction to beloved comic book characters for the general public. Despite not being a fan-favorite, Kraven the Hunter has the potential to change perceptions with a movie that showcases his best qualities. Venom capitalized on fan demand whenever a new Spider-Man cinematic series was released. Morbius, on the other hand, failed to capitalize fully on the popularity of its star. Kraven has the opportunity to surpass expectations, just like Iron Man, Peacemaker, and Guardians of the Galaxy. By bringing together passionate creators, actors who deeply understand the character, and devoted fans, these projects became iconic. The standards for Kraven don't have to be as high, but if the film delivers an entertaining action-packed experience that leaves fans craving more of this formidable hunter, it will fulfill their long-standing desire.

The extent to which Kraven focuses on maintaining the franchise remains uncertain. Assuming the film will be entirely standalone would be naive. Even if the film receives mediocre review scores or isn't as good as Marvel's weakest release, or if most fans are not interested enough to watch it, if Kraven manages to be a well-made movie centered around its titular character, it will signify significant progress for the SSU. If it proves to be a genuinely good film, fans will once again discuss this topic in the following year as they anticipate the spotlight on the next minor character.