Collider reports that Sony Pictures has tapped Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) to write a script for Kraven the Hunter. The long-time Spider-Man villain, whose real name is Sergei Kravinoff, was a Russian aristocrat who became obsessed with big game hunting. He eventually develops superpowers after taking an elixir from the Voodoo priest Calypso. He first showed up in Amazing Spider-Man #15 way back in 1964.
Kraven the Hunter is being put together as the next film in “Sony’s Marvel Universe,” a planned series of spin-offs based on the Marvel characters they still have the rights to. This includes director Ruben Fleischer’s Venom, starring Tom Hardy as the titular anti-hero, which arrives in theaters on October 5, 2018. The studio is also developing Silver & Black, a film focusing on international spy Silver Sable and world-renowned thief Black Cat.
Along with these standalone films, Sony does intend to bring the webslinger himself, Tom Holland, into the various spin-off films (and additional MCU movies) despite him only being contractually obligated to appear in Spider-Man 2 and 3. The character most recently appeared in Avengers: Infinity War, and is slated to return for the as-yet-untitled Avengers 4 next year. Spidey’s second solo MCU outing, Spider-Man: Far From Home is currently in production.
