Jared Leto already showed off a first look at his main character in Morbius last month, but that was really more of a glimpse. This new motion photo gives a full figure look at his Dr. Michael Morbius in the second movie in Sony's Marvel Universe following Venom:
OK. If he's a vampire, maybe the people don't see him as he stands there right in the middle of the sidewalk. Still seems rude, though.
Morbius the Living Vampire started as a nemesis for Spider-Man in Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider Man in the 1970s. In the comics, Dr. Michael Morbius is a biochemist who tries to cure a fatal blood disease by injecting himself with a bat-based treatment serum. That little trick gave him a form of vampirism, including superhuman strength but also a love for human blood. Over time, Morbius evolved into an antihero with his own comic.
Morbius is now filming, with Adria Arjona reportedly playing Martine Bancroft, who is engaged to Dr. Michael Morbius in the comics. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Smith will play the film's villain, Loxias Crown, Morbius’ best friend who also suffers from the same blood disease. Jared Harris is meant to play Morbius’ mentor, with Tyrese Gibson as an FBI agent trying to hunt down Morbius. Jared Leto -- aka the Joker in DC's Suicide Squad -- is taking the lead here as the Marvel antihero himself.
After the huge $855 million success of Venom, Sony has big plans for its universe, which it's technically calling Sony's Marvel Universe -- not to be confused with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and also not quite confused with the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie and its sequel/spinoffs. Spider-Man is part of too many universes, in my opinion. There's been talk of MCU peeps possibly eventually squaring off with Tom Hardy's Venom, and maybe Morbius will be part of that action someday, if it ever happens.
Tom Holland's Spider-Man is busy with his own problems in Spider-Man: Far From Home, which arrives in theaters this July, not quite three months after Avengers: Endgame hopefully explains how Peter Parker is getting his own film when he was snapped by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.
Venom is getting its own sequel, which is now in the works. Morbius -- directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House) -- is scheduled for release in theaters in the U.S. on July 31, 2020. That's already looking like a very busy month. (Release dates may change, though, so stay tuned.) As we wait for more news about Morbius, and eventually a trailer, catch up on everything you need to know about Marvel's Living Vampire. And be sure to keep our 2019 movie release date schedule handy to stay up-to-date on everything opening on the big screen this year.
