Casting Kraven For Sony’s Marvel Movie

Sony has been wanting to make a Kraven the Hunter movie for years, and here are the actors who would be best to play the Marvel character. At the moment, Sony has multiple projects in development with ties to the Spider-Man universe, including Morbius and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, both of which were delayed due to COVID-19. Though it will be a while before fans can see a completed Kraven film, the fact that the studio is discussing the movie with directors is stirring up excitement for it.

With the new deal struck between Sony and Marvel, it’s possible that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man could appear in the Kraven film. Screenwriter Richard Wenk previously discussed the possibility of adapting the popular storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt, of which Spider-Man is an integral part. There’s no guarantee that the film is going in this direction, given that several ideas were being thrown around when Sony and Marvel were planning their Spidey futures, respectively. However, Spider-Man’s inclusion in the film would open up numerous possibilities.

A major player in the world of Spider-Man, Kraven the Hunter is a man with superhuman strength, speed, and senses, which he gained by drinking a potion. Intent on defeating the most powerful foe he can find and proving himself the greatest hunter in the world, Kraven, also known as Sergei Kravinoff, sets his sights on Spider-Man. Born to Russian nobility, Kraven became a hunter after his family’s fall from grace. And despite his status as a villain, he abides by a moral code, and is even sometimes portrayed as an anti-hero. Here are some actors who would be great for the role.

Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello is best known for appearing in the Magic Mike films and for portraying Alcide Herveaux in True Blood, but he’s toyed with comic book movies before. He briefly appeared as Deathstroke in DCEU’s Justice League and once starred as Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, but Manganiello has also stated that Kraven would be a dream role of his. The actor is clearly in his element in the world of superheroes and fantasy, and his role as a werewolf in True Blood could give him an edge with Kraven’s jungle cat inspired look.

As a self-proclaimed fan of the “Kraven’s Last Hunt” storyline in the comics, Joe Manganiello’s combined enthusiasm for the character and strong acting chops make him an excellent casting choice. Having played both a heroic character in True Blood and a villainous one in Justice League, Manganiello will undoubtedly be able to channel the nuance of Kraven’s moral code alongside his malicious intent towards Spider-Man. In fact, fans have already created numerous works of fan art depicting him as Kraven (by Mohammed Hibban), and he certainly looks the part.

David Castañeda

With the recent release of The Umbrella Academy season 2, David Castañeda comes to mind as another possibility for the role. As Diego Hargreeves, Castañeda possesses incredible emotional depth and brings a distinctively gritty side to his otherwise heroic character. Kraven the Hunter displays the same dogged determination that Diego uses to achieve his goals, and it would definitely be fun to see Castañeda play more of a villain.

He is also known for appearing in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, a much darker piece, especially when compared to the wacky and often comedic nature of The Umbrella Academy. Kraven is a part that would likely have a little more gravitas, and Castañeda’s performance in Sicario: Day of the Soldado is a strong indicator that he would easily rise to the challenge Given that Castañeda isn’t involved with any other major franchises, this could be a chance for him to bring his acting skills to the Marvel Universe, and fans of The Umbrella Academy would certainly be excited to see him on their screens again.

Ricky Whittle

Ricky Whittle is another potential choice to play Kraven in the upcoming Sony movie. In his most recent project, American Gods, Whittle plays protagonist and good guy Shadow Moon. However, he is also known for portraying Lincoln in the CW’s The 100, a character with a more complicated moral storyline. Notably, in The 100, Whittle’s character is kidnapped and forced to become a Reaper: a guardian for his captors and a brutal fighter, which means he would be a good fit for the villainous Kraven the Hunter.

On the other hand, Lincoln’s honorable moments also indicate Whittle’s ability to play Kraven’s moral code and possible anti-hero tendencies. Though the roles are quite different, they share one key similarity in that both characters are fairly singular in their motivations. While Kraven is driven by the desire to prove himself, Lincoln is driven by his love for Octavia. Both are strong motivators, and Whittle can certainly portray Kraven’s intensity. Whittle’s strength as an actor paired with his ability to expertly portray moral complexity make him another strong contender to play Kraven the Hunter.

Theo James

Though Theo James hasn’t been in the Hollywood spotlight since he played Four in the Divergent series, he is another possible choice for the role of Kraven the Hunter. Four is another heroic character with a bit of a dark side, and James deftly portrays both Four’s stoicism and his ferocity. Playing Kraven would be an exciting opportunity to delve further into that sense of ferocity and bring James back into the spotlight, this time as a bad guy. James also voices Hector in the animated series Castlevania, a character with a more villainous streak that the actor would certainly be able to bring artfully to the live action screen.

While James is not an unknown actor, he would still be something of a fresh face given that he has never done a major superhero movie before. Fans who know him from Divergent will undoubtedly be excited for his return to a larger franchise and Castlevania viewers will be curious to experience a different facet of his acting.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is most widely known for his role as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but he also portrayed the titular villain in X-Men: Apocalypse. Despite doing an excellent job with the role, it’s possible that Isaac may not have any desire to play another Marvel villain – especially given the outcry against his version of the infamous mutant. However, his collaborative relationship with director J.C. Chandor could draw him to the project. Chandor will reportedly direct Sony’s Kraven movie, and the pair worked together on A Most Violent Year and Triple Frontier – and they would likely enjoy the chance to do so again.

Because Apocalypse was a more megalomaniacal character, Isaac could be enticed by Kraven’s contrasting desperation to prove himself. Over the course of his career, Isaac has taken on many roles that are morally gray or outright villainous, and he has a clear talent for exploring those characters without making them one dimensional. This skill makes Isaac a very strong candidate to play Kraven in all his complexity.