Kraven The Hunter; who is the Marvel character Aaron Taylor-Johnson is playing in the new SSU film?

Could Aaron Taylor-Johnson do what Ezra Miller tried and save the ailing superhero genre, as the trailer for his new film, ‘Kraven The Hunter,’ has been released  - in all its R rated, red band trailer glory. Taylor-Johnson, no stranger to comic book adaptations, plays the titular character, with a supporting cast including Ariana DeBose, ‘The White Lotus’ season one actor Fred Hechinger and Oscar winner Russell Crowe.

But with this being a film in the Sony Spider-Man Universe (we’ll get to that), some of the characters involved might not be ones that casual fans of superhero movies are familiar with; they said the same about Kick-Ass when that first came out but, as we hope happens in this film, Taylor-Johnson’s performance in that movie made everyone familiar with the character.

So who is this Kraven The Hunter fellow that Taylor-Johnson has buffed up to play, and how is he tied into Sony’s Spider-Man Universe? Well, if the film is set to be faithful to the comic book iterations of Sergei Kravenoff, he could be the next big bag villain for a future Spider-Man (or Madame Web affiliates) to take on.

In the comic books, Kraven is a supervillain and occasional antihero who first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15, which was published in August 1964. Kraven, whose real name is Sergei Kravinoff, is a highly skilled big-game hunter from Russia. He is known for his enhanced strength, agility, and senses, as well as his mastery of various hunting techniques. 

Kraven has a distinctive appearance, often wearing a vest made from the skin of a lion. He has clashed with Spider-Man numerous times throughout the years and is considered one of his most formidable adversaries, despite not yet featuring in any of the Spider-Man films, either those led by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland.

Kraven The Hunter’s strengths and weaknesses

Kraven the Hunter possesses a range of formidable strengths. Firstly, he has honed his physical attributes to the peak of human potential. This grants him exceptional strength, agility, endurance, and reflexes, enabling him to engage in intense physical combat and perform remarkable feats of athleticism - hence why Taylor-Johnson buffed up for the role.

Additionally, Kraven possesses heightened senses, particularly in sight and smell, which allow him to track his prey with precision, detect hidden enemies, and react swiftly to danger. His expertise as a hunter and tracker, combined with an intimate knowledge of animals and their habitats, further enhances his skills. 

Kraven also happens to be a master martial artist, having trained extensively in various disciplines, making him a formidable opponent in hand-to-hand combat. Lastly, his natural immunity to toxins and poisons grants him an advantage against substances that would incapacitate or harm others.

But he does have some weaknesses: his arrogance and overconfidence often cloud his judgement, leading him to underestimate his opponents. This flaw has proven exploitable by his adversaries in the past. Furthermore, Kraven's obsession with hunting and proving himself as the ultimate predator can result in bouts of emotional instability, compromising his decision-making abilities. 

Another weakness lies in the fact that Kraven lacks superhuman abilities, making him vulnerable when facing opponents with extraordinary powers or abilities. Lastly, his intense personality and obsession make him susceptible to mental manipulation and psychological tactics, as skilled manipulators can exploit his vulnerabilities and turn his strengths against him.

That last weakness, should the box office work out well for Kraven The Hunter, we believe might be the cause of a multi-franchise superevent (much like The Avengers) leading to the big crossover film as part of the SSU in the future.

What is the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU?)

Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) is a shared media franchise centred on superhero films produced by Sony Pictures in association with Marvel. It began with the intention to launch spin-off films featuring Spider-Man villains, but plans changed after the disappointing reception of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ Sony then collaborated with Marvel Studios to integrate Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The collaboration resulted in three Spider-Man films, while Sony independently developed ‘Venom’ as a stand-alone film. 

‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ and ‘Morbius’ connect the SSU with the MCU through mid-credit scenes. The SSU also includes the animated film ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ and upcoming live-action films like ‘Kraven the Hunter.’ Sony is also developing several TV series set in the SSU, including ‘Silk: Spider Society’ and an untitled ‘Spider-Man Noir’ series, with the character hopefully voiced once again by Nic Cage. 

Initially known as "Sony's Marvel Universe" and "Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters," the franchise was renamed "Sony's Spider-Man Universe" (SSU) in 2021. The relationship between the SSU and the MCU has evolved, with Sony and Marvel Studios negotiating to share the Spider-Man character. The recent film ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ further explores the multiverse concept and the connections between the two universes.