Last year at CinemaCon, Sony Pictures announced that a movie focusing on obscure Spider-Man character El Muerto was in development, with Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón set to direct and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Blue Beetle) penning the script.
The Spider-Man adjacent spin-off had enlisted Latin Grammy winner and platinum-selling recording artist Bad Bunny to play superpowered Luchador Juan Carlos Sanchez, but we'd later learn that the Bullet Train actor was forced to drop out of the project due to a scheduling conflict.
"It’s crazy. Sometimes, I can’t believe it yet, but it’s the result of my work," Bad Bunny said of joining the Marvel Universe at the time. "The way I am, the way I work, I’m so proud, very happy about this character, this opportunity to be the first Latino. It’s not about ‘I’m gonna be the first Latino making a role,’ it’s gonna be about the first Latino main character, that’s the important thing. So it’s something huge, and it will be epic. I know that the people are gonna be proud about my work."
Subsequent reports indicated that the movie had been shelved (or possibly even scrapped altogether), but according to Variety, El Muerto is still very much in development, with the studio currently searching for another actor to play the lead.
El Muerto being removed from Sony's schedule is believed to been down to the recent Hollywood strikes, as the script still needed some work before shooting could get underway. With the strikes resolved, it seems plans for the project have resumed.
The supporting cast had not been finalized, but the studio was reportedly eyeing wrestler and The Mandalorian actress Mercedes Varnado (formerly known as Sasha Banks, currently going by Mercedes Monet) for an undisclosed role, and Marvin Jones III to play the villainous Tombstone (Jones voiced the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).
Whether Jones III and Varnado are still involved is unclear.
Should the movie ever see the light of day, El Muerto will be the first Latino superhero to headline his own movie in the SSU (formerly known as SPUMC), which also includes upcoming releases Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter, a Venom threequel and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
El Muerto is certainly an unusual choice of character to lead his own standalone film, but fans are used to Sony Pictures making odd decisions at this stage. Maybe there's still hope for that solo Aunt May movie?