Exploring the Thrilling Interconnections between Spider-Man's Wild Adventures and Kraven the Hunter
Despite most of the films being poor to awful, it's unfortunate that Kraven the Hunter might be the final non-Spider-Man film in the Sony Spider-Man Universe. Following the failure of Morbius, Madame Web and three Venom films, Kraven the Hunter is filled with references to Spider-Man to such an extent that it seems like a path to Spider-Man is gradually emerging. Unfortunately, this path seems unlikely to be pursued. With the film now in theaters, let's delve into all the Spider-Man connections and hints in Kraven the Hunter.
We're about to divulge some major Kraven spoilers, so if you intend to watch the movie, look away now.
One of the most notable and overwhelming connections to Spider-Man in Kraven is Rhino. Rhino, like Kraven, is one of Spider-Man's most well-known adversaries and even appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In this movie, Rhino takes on the role of the primary antagonist, portrayed by Alessandro Nivola. He seeks to take control of Kraven's father's territory, Nikolai Kravinoff, who is played by Russell Crowe.
Rhino, whose real name is Aleksei Sytsevich, explains that he acquired the ability to transform into Rhino after undergoing a procedure performed by a doctor named Miles Warren in New York. We'll delve deeper into Warren this week, but he's a crucial character in Marvel Comics, especially since he's based in New York, the city where most of Kraven is set. Towards the end of the movie, we learn that Kraven's brother Dmitri (Fred Hechinger) went to New York to have a procedure done by a doctor and can now change his physical form into other people. He's officially known as the Chameleon, a name he's been called frequently throughout the film due to his ability to mimic others. He doesn't specify who performed the procedure, but Dmitri was the character Rhino mentioned Warren to - so we can assume it was him.
Three members of the Sinister Six - Kraven, Rhino, and Chameleon - are possibly present in the movie, with two of them being created by the same deranged mad scientist. And yes, Rhino dies in the film, but isn't it just a comic book world where death means nothing?
Beyond the three main Spider-Man villains in Kraven, there are also two minor ones. First, there's Calypso, portrayed by Ariana DeBose. Calypso is the individual responsible for gifting Kraven his powers through a secret elixir passed down from her grandmother. Later, we find out she's had assassination training herself, learning archery skills at "summer camp." In the film, Calypso is on the side of the good guys, but Kraven is also presented as a hero.
There's also the Foreigner, portrayed by Christopher Abbott. In the comics, the Foreigner is generally depicted as a basic assassin/soldier. Here, he has the power of hypnosis. Despite his power, he's hired by Rhino to find Kraven and uses toxins to scare people into submission by revealing their deepest fears. Kraven's fear, drum roll please, is spiders. It's disappointing that someone who fights lions and tigers and bears (oh my) is afraid of spiders - but, hey, Spider-Man.
So we have five Spider-Man villains in the film and a strong connection to spiders. Is there more? You bet. The film mentions the Daily Bugle twice, once online and the second time when the Foreigner brings a copy to a meeting to express his dislike for Kraven. The newspaper labels his boss as a "hit man." That's a lot of Spider-Man references and although there's no clear connection to Spider-Man, it marks a significant foundation. More so than Morbius, Venom, or Madame Web did.
Kraven the Hunter ends with Chameleon accusing his brother of being just as evil as he or their father was. In the final shot, he puts on the lion coat the character is famous for, signifying Kraven's possible acceptance of being a killer. Maybe a second film will delve deeper into this, with brothers battling it out in New York. An event that could be covered by the Daily Bugle and, perhaps, an ambitious new photographer by the name of Peter Parker. Maybe they'd cross paths with a blind mentor, Cassandra Web, or a renowned doctor, Michael Morbius. Maybe another journalist, Eddie Brock, could have been in the city at the time. Could this have led to a more thrilling storyline? Unfortunately, maybe not, as Kraven seems to be it.
And no, there's no post-credit scene. Kraven the Hunter is now in theaters. Want more io9 news? Check out upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, exclusive updates on the DC Universe on film and TV, and insights into the future of Doctor Who.
In the future of cinematic storytelling, if Sony decides to continue the Sony Spider-Man Universe, the presence of the Daily Bugle and a new ambitious photographer named Peter Parker could potentially lead to interesting interactions with characters like Cassandra Web, Michael Morbius, or even Eddie Brock.
Furthermore, technology plays a significant role in the movie, with Miles Warren performing procedures to give individuals superhuman abilities, such as Rhino's transformations and Dmitri's ability to shape-shift into other people. This technological advancement could shape the direction of future villains in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, as seen in Kraven's brother the Chameleon.
Now that you've seen 'Kraven the Hunter' in theaters, keep an eye on io9 for updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe releases, and future insights into Doctor Who.
