The “Spider-Man” franchise couldn’t be more popular as “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is approaching $2 billion at the global box office. Sony is looking to continue to flesh out its own cinematic universe without the help of Marvel Studios after the success of the “Venom” films. Other spinoffs coming to theaters in the near future includes the vampire flick “Morbius” coming next month and “Kraven the Hunter” about to begin shooting soon with Aaron Taylor-Johnson set as the titular Marvel Comics character.
Taylor-Johnson is getting some more company, as Deadline reports that Oscar-nominated actress Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story“) has landed the role of Calypso Ezili in the pic. In the comics, Calypso is a super-villain voodoo priestess from Haiti and sometimes love interest of Kraven.
READ MORE: ‘Kraven The Hunter’: Fred Hechinger To Play Chameleon Villain In Spider-Man Spinoff
Kraven, aka, Sergei Kravinoff is a Russian big game hunter and part of the original string of ‘Spider-Man’ villains that eventually came together in the super-villain team, Sinister Six. He’s known for his super-human strength and various animalistic instincts.
DeBose had a breakout performance in Steven Spielberg‘s “West Side Story” remake leading to a Best Supporting Actress nomination and recently took a role in Matthew Vaughn‘s spy pic “Argylle” starring Henry Cavill.
Directed by J.C. Chandor (“Triple Frontier“), the new Marvel film will also introduce audiences to Kraven’s half-brother, The Chameleon, with Fred Hechinger (“White Lotus“) playing the shape-shifting villain. The three big characters announced for “Kraven” will be making their big-screen debuts as they haven’t been adapted for previous “Spider-Man” movies.
Russell Crowe, who plays Zeus in “Thor: Love & Thunder,” is part of the cast too.
READ MORE: Tom Holland Says ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Was Nearly A Kraven The Hunter Movie
“Kraven” will be released in theaters by Sony on January 13, 2023, and “Morbius” drops on April 1.
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://dev.theplaylist.net/kraven-the-hunter-adds-ariana-debose-20220302/&media=https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14170455/KRAVEN-MOVIE_SPIDER-MAN_ARIANA-DEBOSE_CALYPSO_MARVEL-SONY_.jpg&description=Oscar nominee Ariana DeBose ("West Side Story") has joined "Kraven The Hunter" in the role of Calypso opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson.){kind=link}