Kraven the Hunter adapts the popular comic book franchise that first sprang to life in 1964. The character of Kraven has long been famous as Spider-Man's nemesis, so if you're in the mood for some feral, violent action this December, the movie has you covered.
Scroll down to discover all you need to know including story, cast, age rating and release date.
What is Kraven the Hunter about?
The official synopsis is as follows: 'Kraven the Hunter is the action-packed, standalone story of how one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be.
"Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless gangster father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world but also one of its most feared. '
Who stars in Kraven the Hunter?
As mentioned, Aaron Taylor-Johnson portrays Kraven. This isn't the actor's first comic book rodeo: he rose to global stardom as the DIY superhero Kick-Ass in Matthew Vaughn's provocative and controversial 2010 movie of the same name, which was adapted from Mark Millar's graphic novel.
Taylor-Johnson will next be seen in Robert Eggers' Gothic horror Nosferatu (released on January 1st). Longstanding rumour has it that he's next in line to play James Bond. Will he be able to juggle that and the Kraven franchise at the same time?
Taylor-Johnson tells Collider: "It had to be this kind of character that I just felt had depth and complexity, and felt like it really had the legs to stand on – like it could go somewhere.
"I wanted to invest time into this character, because I believe there’s something truly unique and interesting in telling this story, tonally like this, R action, gritty and grounded, and giving the audience a character like this villainous iconic comic book character and bringing him to life."
Gladiator star Russell Crowe plays Kraven's imposing father Nikolai while Gladiator II's Fred Hechinger plays Dmitri Smerdyakov / Chameleon, Kraven's half-brother and a master of disguise.
The cast also includes Ariana DeBose (Oscar winner for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story) as Calypso Ezili, a voodoo priestess and Kraven's love interest.
Alessandro Nivola (Jurassic Park III) is Aleksei Sytsevich / Rhino, a Russian mercenary who can turn into a human-rhino hybrid, and Christopher Abbott (Poor Things; the soon-to-be-released Wolf Man) as the Foreigner, a mercenary and assassin.
Who is directing Kraven the Hunter?
Kraven the Hunter is directed by J.C. Chandor. He is best known for directing acclaimed, character-driven independent movies like Margin Call (2011), the gripping story of a financial institution's collapse and its impact on the wider world.
In 2013, Chandor helmed the one-man Robert Redford survival vehicle All is Lost, which was the pared-down story of a person escaping their past and attempting to survive at sea. In 2014, Chandor veered into crime drama with the well-received A Most Violent Year, which starred Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain.
Kraven the Hunter is Chandor's comic book movie debut. Of the character, he says (via Deadline): “I’m extremely proud of the work we have all done together on Kraven, and when the movie finally gets its chance to be seen I think it’s gonna surprise the hell out of a lot of people.”
Does Kraven the Hunter belong to the Sony-Marvel Universe?
Kraven the Hunter is the latest instalment in the Sony-Marvel Universe, also known as the Sony Spider-Man Universe. It follows the recently released Venom: The Last Dance, which came hot on the heels of Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Venom (2018), all of which starred Tom Hardy as the symbiotic title character.
Kraven the Hunter also belongs to the same universe as the less-well-regarded Madame Web (2024) and Morbius (2022). Will Kraven be the best movie in the franchise so far? Only time will tell.
Is Kraven the Hunter connected to Venom?
Given it belongs to the same universe, Kraven will likely cross over with the world of Venom. The characters have a long antagonistic history in the comics, having first fought each other in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #17 (by Howard Mackie, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hanna).
Both characters also clashed in Marvel's PlayStation 5 game Spider-Man 2, so it remains to be seen if future movies will pick up the baton.
Is Kraven the Hunter playing in special formats at Cineworld?
Kraven the Hunter is playing in special format IMAX, plus the Cineworld-exclusive formats 4DX and ScreenX.
What is the age rating for Kraven the Hunter?
Kraven the Hunter is rated 15 by the BBFC for 'strong, bloody violence and language'.
When is Kraven the Hunter released?
Kraven the Hunter is released on December 13th.
Where can we book tickets for Kraven the Hunter?
Book your tickets for Kraven the Hunter via the link below.
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