Kraven the Hunter, the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led film that reportedly marked the end of Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) ambitions, is set to premiere on Disney Plus in September. The movie joins other SSU titles already available on the streaming service, including Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, and Madame Web. Sony's mainline Spider-Man films featuring Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland are also accessible on Disney Plus.
Released in 2024, Kraven the Hunter was met with significant critical disapproval and achieved only $62 million in global box office earnings, a performance that effectively shuttered the SSU. The film's portrayal of Kraven deviates from the comic book source material, reimagining him as a vigilante protector of the natural world rather than a hunter seeking to challenge Spider-Man. Taylor-Johnson described his character as an apex predator and an animal lover during the film's promotion.
The movie features several Spider-Man-adjacent characters, including the Chameleon, played by Fred Hechinger, and Calypso, portrayed by Ariana DeBose. Russell Crowe also appears as Aleksei Sytsevich, the Rhino, in a performance noted for its unusual take on the character. Christopher Abbott appears as The Foreigner, an assassin with hypnotic abilities.
Despite its critical reception, earning a 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Kraven the Hunter has been described as a "hot mess" and a "puzzling film" worth a "hate-watch" for its insight into the downfall of Sony's SSU. The film's production was reportedly marred by delays and studio-driven choices, including its creation without the inclusion of Spider-Man.
Kraven the Hunter will be available on Disney Plus starting September 13.