It looks like Sony has even more projects on the burner for theirSpider-Manspin-off movie universe than we previously thought. Developed in secret, it’s come to light that the studio is moving forward with a movie based onMorbius the Living Vampire. According to a new report, the script has been submitted and the studio is ready to get it in front of a camera, which likely means finding a director to tackle the project. No director’s names were brought up in this initial report about the nextSpider-Man spin-offfor Sony’s standalone Marvel Universe.
The movie, simply titledMorbius, was written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, who most recently wrote the live-actionPower Rangersmovie for Saban and Lionsgate. Their other credits includeGod’s of Egypt,Dracula UntoldandThe Last Witch Hunter. So this seems to be in their wheelhouse. While no specific plot details have been provided, the movie will center onMorbiusthe Living Vampire, who started out as aSpider-Man villain, but eventually managed to become something of a hero in his own right. This movie, likeVenom, which is now in production, and the forthcomingSilver and Blackmovie, will not be connected to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and the MCU.
In case you aren’t familiar,Morbiusthe Living Vampire made his debut inThe Amazing Spider-Man#101. The issue is significant because it’s the first issue not penned by MarvelComics legend Stan Lee. Though a vampire by title,Morbiusis not a vampire in the traditional sense. The character gained his thirst for blood, which needs to survive, after running experiments on himself in order to cure a rare blood disease. It had some pretty negative side-effects that turned him into a vampire of sorts. His bite often kills his victims, but unlike regular vampires, it doesn’t turn them into vampires themselves.
Morbiuspossess the ability to fly and has superhuman strength. Following his debut inThe Amazing Spider-Man, the character was given his own series for a time and was featured in other titles. He’s a tragic character, but managed to redeem his initial bout of villainy by becoming a hero in his own right.Morbiuswas created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. This is how the character is handled and portrayed in theworld of Marvel Comics, but details on Sony’s take have yet to be revealed and the studio has yet to comment on theMorbiusmovie at this time.
Marvel Studios and Sony struck a deal that allows for Spider-Man to be part of the MCU, but Sony still owns the rights to Spidey’s entire rogues gallery of characters. As such, they’ve decided to make some spin-off movies using these characters that won’t include Spider-Man in them. There’s still a great many questions about how that’s going to work, but a project likeMorbiuscertainly doesn’t need Spider-Man to function.
In the early days of comic book movies, Marvel’sBladewas brought to the big screen and found modest success.Morbiusrepresents something totally new for vampires and comic book movies, as he’s a vampire created by sciences as opposed to the supernatural.The Hollywood Reportermakes no mention of a potential release date, but the project sounds like it’s in the relatively early stages.
