Cameras have started rolling on Kraven the Hunter in England, and we now have our first look at the title character. Unfortunately, a stuntman has taken the place of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, though it appears the classic Spider-Man villain will be rocking standard facial hair rather than his usual goatee.
That's a minor alteration, of course, and it's interesting to see Kraven suited up...in a shirt and smart pants. There's no sign of his comic book costume here, and it seems the character might have ditched a party to chase down this car, leaping on its side while attempting punch his way through the window. Clearly, there's someone inside who this hunter wants to take down.
J.C. Chandor will direct Kraven the Hunter, but very little has been revealed beyond that. However, recent casting news means we know the lead villain is set to be The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott), with Calypso (Ariana DeBose) serving as a love interest and Chameleon (Fred Hechinger) also factoring into the plot. Making this a true family affair is Russell Crowe as Kraven's father.
We're not anticipating Spider-Man showing up in the movie, but given how recent Kraven stories have focused on the web-slinger's mystical ties, we could learn more about the Hunter's interest in the Spider Totem, setting the stage for a meeting somewhere down the line.
Kraven the Hunter is set to be released in theaters on January 13, 2023.