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The success ofKraven the Huntermay well hold the future of one of Hollywood’s most enduring franchises in the balance. This is, of course, not referring to the Spider-Man universe. The often-derided franchise that brought viewers the likes ofMorbiusandMadame Webhas been announced to come to a momentary end with this week’s newest release. But while the future of the Spider-Man Universe has already been settled,Kraven the Huntermay finally decide who our next James Bond will be. And for starAaron Taylor-Johnson, this might not necessarily be a good thing.
Kraven the Hunter, Sony’s newest and, for the moment,last film in the Spider-Man universe,w has just been released, and the verdict couldn’t be more discomforting. Slammed by critics and tracking for a first-weekend box office that rivals even the lowest box office of the franchise’s previous films,Kraven the Hunteris looking to be a critical and financial flop. While this disappointment is something that few would hope for outside the machinations of Bialystock and Bloom, for Aaron Taylor-Johnson, this comes at a critical time. The actor is rumored to be in the running to take over as the next James Bond.But couldKraven the Hunter’s failure mar Taylor-Johnson’s chance to have his martini shaken and not stirred?
Kraven the Hunter
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‘Kraven the Hunter’ Set to Make Disappointing History
At its release,Kraven the Hunteris set to make history as the lowest opening film in the Sony Spider-Man franchise. Currently tracking at a $13-$15 million opening, if it holds true to those figures, the film is set to fall below evenMadame Web’s dismal opening numbers. This is not good news for Sony, which should be used to unpleasant news regarding this franchise at this point. Outside the Tom Hardy-helmedVenomseries, the studio’s Spider-Man adjacent series has been received with mockery and derision.
2022’sMorbiusbecame a meme-worthy failure. So successful was the mockery of the film that Sony attempted to cash in on the trend by re-releasingMorbius, which gave the movie thedistinction of flopping twice over. 2024’sMadame Webdidn’t serve any better. The laughably earnest film that was called too boring to be unintentionally good ranks at the bottom of reviews for the franchise (11% on Rotten Tomatoes). Yet remarkably,Kraven the Hunter’s box office is tracking even worse.
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The release of the film approached like an encroaching doom. After the twin disappointments ofMorbiusandMadame Web, by the timeKraven the Hunterreleased its first trailer, fans were at their sarcastic best in expressing their lowered expectations. Flocking to Sony’s YouTube page, fans flooded the comments with tongue-in-cheek praise for the film’s imaginary outlandish moments. This was a tactic used to deride bothMadame WebandMorbiusand signaled that perhaps audiences were not open to welcomingKraven the Hunter.
In addition, Sony’s announcement of a hiatus from the Spider-Man universe could have potentially swept the legs from under this filmas it offers no promise of a future beyond the film. The movie, which was originally tasked to pull in between $20-$25 million domestically,saw its box-off projections fallto a stunning $15 million projected best. This would make it the worst opening box office weekend for the struggling franchise.
Can a Bond Arise from ‘Kraven the Hunter’sFailure?
So far,Kraven the Hunterhas a 14% critical review score onRotten Tomatoes. Critics of the film called it lazy, dull, and baffling. With a one-dimensional villain and awful dialogue, the film was called corny and a tease for what could have been a better action film.While the flaws of the film seem plentiful, this is not a fault of its star, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Even reviews critical of the film gave a note of praise to Taylor-Johnson. Critics called him charismatic, physically capable, and an ideal choice for the role. One even noted that Taylor-Johnson deserved better. But can a Bond film be the ‘better’ that fulfills Taylor-Johnson’s promise?
If the rumors are correct and Aaron Taylor-Johnson could potentially bethe next James Bond, this film is not ideal. However, hopefully, it will not get in the way of his chances. The creators of the Bond series should find comfort in the knowledge that the failure ofKraven the Hunterseems to be due more to the writing and production rather than its star. Just as in his previous works,Taylor-Johnson has leading man charisma, the skill of wit to roll off scripted banter, and the physical ability to pull off choreographed stunts flawlessly. Add to this, the fact that the actor has a solid history of work that has made his name familiar to many audiences. Though all these factors do not seem to be lining up to assistKraven the Hunter, perhaps they will be better served in his next endeavor.
The seemingly inevitable failure ofKraven the Hunteris disappointing. Nevertheless, the film’s shortcomings do not appear to be something that should mar the actor from a future superstar role. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has proven himself in a number of action roles, many of which were phenomenally successful (Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bullet Train). He is charismatic, well-known to audiences, and physically capable of taking on the Bond role. The only question left is whether the studio sees it this way.Kraven the Hunteris in theaters now.
