"Kraven" might as well stay in the jungle

What happened to Kraven? The film starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, directed by J. C. Chandor, was initially set to be one of the key titles of autumn 2023, with a release date planned for October. However, it was postponed due to the writers' strike and, even more so, the actors' strike, which would have hindered its promotion. A reshuffle that, following the general halt, impacted the entire Sony calendar, which, with its sagas, was not (and is not) in a great place. From the second Ghostbusters - Frozen Menace to its Spider-Man universe, where only the animation survives (Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse), the parent company of the British actor’s hunter continued to push back its release first to August 30, 2024, and finally to the holiday season. "Lack of confidence in the project?", many might think. "It’s a film suited for the holidays!" Sony responded at the time. The truth seems to be hidden, albeit in plain sight, behind the continuous failures of a world that has crumbled film after film and with Kraven, might have reached its end. It’s no coincidence that the most epic part of the film is the complete absence of a post-credit scene, a clear lack of faith in a project that isn’t meant to continue and whose swan song can be felt while watching the comic book movie. Similar to the experience with films like Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, or even more so, James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, knowing the downfall of the DC Extended Universe and its reconversion and rebirth under James Gunn, co-chair, co-CEO, and creative director of the next DC Universe.

After Madame Web was moved to February 2024, things got even more complicated for Kraven the Hunter. With a critic score of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes and a mediocre 55% audience score for the film starring Dakota Johnson, Sony declared it wanted to wait for a holiday release because it believed in the potential of the Aaron Taylor-Johnson movie but also needed to rework the screenplay to strengthen the story. A resounding flop at the box office for Madame Web pushed the production to make changes, leaving many wondering what improvements were made to Chandor’s film and how disastrous it must have been before its current release. Coming after Venom - The Last Dance, another poorly received title that struggled at the US box office but performed better internationally, Kraven the Hunter lacks flavor, aesthetics, narrative, and even an entry point for viewers to connect with the characters. Meanwhile, questions arise for Aaron Taylor-Johnson about why he chose to join Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, effectively forfeiting his chance to play the next James Bond (producer Barbara Broccoli has been clear: any new actor must be "clean" from franchise commitments). And especially why he opted to mimic the role instead of earning it, dedicating himself in Kraven to lackluster fight scenes—despite the film’s age restriction of 14+—and an extended running sequence that feels like a desperate bid to prove he would be the perfect choice for the next 007.

The rest of the film features a weak plot, and its various subplots lack vibrancy, originality, and especially coherence. There’s no connection between causes and effects or in the establishment of relationships between characters. By the time we’ve reached the sixth film of the saga, everything about Sony’s effort feels increasingly unjustifiable. Could the solution be to pause and recalibrate? To follow Marvel’s example, which took a year off in 2024, presenting only Deadpool & Wolverine and hoping to relaunch the brand next year (with a shaky start like the new Captain America, but later strong with its Fantastic Four)? Or should we rethink the entire Sony cosmos and find someone who can navigate it, as Gunn seems to be doing with DC (also preparing for 2025 with his new Superman)? Currently, this universe seems to have projects in the works, from the Spider-Man Noir series, which would see Nicolas Cage return (as a voice), to a string of productions that live and die in the blink of an eye. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Perhaps Kraven the Hunter will manage to move nimbly through the holiday box office, but it certainly won’t be the box office alone that determines its value.