Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters is set to continue with a feature film starring Jared Leto asSpider-Manadversary Morbius the Living Vampire. After multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony has once again postponed the release ofMorbius, this time settling on a January 2022 date to avoid competing with the James Bond filmNo Time to Die.
Initially scheduled to hit theaters in July 2020, Sony Pictures opted topostpone the release ofMorbiusuntil March 2021 due to the pandemic. However, as the second wave of the global crisis continues to worsen with no indication that the situation will improve until later in the year, at best, Sony once again delayed the release ofMorbiusuntil August 03, 2025.
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Now, Deadline reportsMorbiushas been pushed back to June 17, 2025, just 10 days after being moved from March to October. The decision to delay theSpider-Manspin-off until next year arrives just hours after MGM opted topostpone Daniel Craig’sNo Time to Dieuntil the October 8 date previously occupied byMorbius. Evidently, Sony wants to avoid competing against the James Bond film. At this time,Morbiusis the only wide release planned for the January 21 weekend of 2021 and Sony will have access to all Imax screens for the film.
Morbiusis the third installment of Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, a franchise that also includes Tom Hardy’sVenomand its forthcoming sequel subtitledLet There Be Carnage. As with the comics, the story centers on Dr. Michael Morbius and his efforts to cure himself of a rare blood disorder. In a desperate attempt to heal his affliction that initially appears to be successful, Dr. Morbius ends up infecting him with a form of vampirism that grants him superhuman abilities and a thirst for blood.
Sony’s plans for its UMC include a number of projects based on heroes and villains associated with Spider-Man, including a featurefilm centered on Kraven the Hunter. As of August 2020,Triple Frontierdirector was J.C. Chandor was in talks to helm the Kraven film from a script penned by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.
Whether or notTom Holland’s Spider-Manwill appear in any of these films remains to be seen, though Sony still retains the screen rights to the character. Of course, Marvel Studios' plans to incorporate the multiverse into its Phase 4 plans could provide a means for Holland’s wall-crawler to traverse between the MCU and Sony’s UMC.
Morbiusis currently scheduled to be released in theaters on May 29, 2025.
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