The upcoming Morbius film is one of many films based on Marvel properties in the works by Sony Pictures Entertainment. With Venom: Let There Be Carnage set to release in theaters this September and a Kraven the Hunter film also in the works, the distributor seems poised to be creating its own universe based on the Spider-Man characters that it currently holds the rights to. That notion of a cinematic universe may have been confirmed today, as Morbius director Daniel Espinosa might have confirmed that Venom star Tom Hardy might be starring in a cameo role alongside Jared Leto in the supervillain film.
Morbius stars Jared Leto as Michael Morbius, a man suffering from a rare blood disease who finds and uses an unconventional treatment, only to inflict himself with a form of vampirism. The film will follow Morbius as he discovers his supernatural abilities, as well as a peculiar lack of the common weaknesses associated with vampires such as aversion to sunlight. Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith plays a friend of Morbius suffering from the same blood disease named Loxias Crown (also known as Hunger), a character speculated to be the villain that Morbius must defeat.
Swedish film director Daniel Espinosa, who has made many notable films including Life and Child 44, spoke in an interview with Swedish outlet Moviezine (which was then translated into English by The Direct). In the interview, Espinosa reminisced about the surreal nature of seeing big-name actors on the list of people working on a day's film shoot—and he listed Tom Hardy among the biggest name actors appearing in Morbius. Espinosa said, "When you walk around there, the recording looks just like a Swedish production, but then you look and read names like Michael Keaton, Jared Leto, Tom Hardy, then it feels cool and very exciting." While this quote may be a reference to working with Tom Hardy on Child 44, the positioning of Tom Hardy's name next to potential Morbius co-stars is sure to raise eyebrows among the Marvel movie fanbase.
In addition to Jared Leto Matt Smith, Morbius will star Adria Arjona as Morbius's fiancée, Jared Harris as Morbius's mentor, and Tyrese Gibson as an FBI agent hunting Morbius down. Michael Keaton is confirmed to be appearing in the film, though it is unconfirmed as to whether he will reprise his role as Vulture from Spider-Man: Homecoming. Daniel Espinosa directed a script written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, a screenwriting team that has written many notable films including Dracula Untold and The Last Witch Hunter, while also serving as showrunners on the hit Netflix series Lost in Space.
Sony's cinematic universe of Marvel characters is shaping up to be something exciting, and if Tom Hardy really is going to appear in Morbius, then it likely means that their universe will be coming together more quickly than fans may have anticipated. The universe itself is currently shrouded in mystery, but when it comes to Morbius, the concept is compelling, the director and writers are perfect for the project, and it will provide the first Marvel film based around vampires since the original Blade films. Morbius is shaping up to be another Marvel event that fans will be more than happy to keep their eyes on.
Morbius will release in theaters on January 28th, 2022.
Source: Moviezine (translated by The Direct)