Here’s some news that will certainly make you feel one way or another:Jared Letois set to star in the title role ofMorbius, Sony’sSpider-Manspin-off that focuses on the vampiric villain from the pages of Marvel Comics. DirectorDaniel Espinosa(Safe House) is set to helm the pic. Written byBurk SharplessandMatt Sazama(Lost in Space),Morbiuswill be produced byAvi AradandMatt TolmachwithLucas Foster, and with Sony’sPalak Pateloverseeing for the studio, asVarietyreports.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, how do you feel about this news? I’d imagine the Leto fans out there, whether you’re a fan of “30 Seconds to Mars” or his Oscar-winning work on the big screen, are happy to see him getting another high-profile superhero movie role. For others who can’t think of Leto without his particular brand of Joker toxin flooding their memories, this is probably some pretty upsetting news. And then there’s the contingent of folks out there for whom this means nothing at all sinceMorbiusisn’t exactly a household name.
For yours truly, this is like anti-news. It’s the kind of story that actively repels me away from reading any further. Your mileage may vary, but the news of Leto being attached to this role is stretching my ability to hold back skepticism and retain cautious optimism until the movie is actually out in the world. The downside here is that Leto’s role as Morbius apparently won’t affect his plans to return as the Joker in any of Warner Bros.' upcoming films.
No plot details forMorbiusbeyond the obvious are available, but Sony is looking to start production this year. The studio’s otherSpider-Manfilms include theVenomspin-off withTom Hardythis October 5th, followed bySpider-Man: Far from Homeon August 02, 2025. Honestly, I’m most excited at the potential for Sony’s animated feature,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseopening this December 14th, so you can miss me with this Leto nonsense for the next couple of years. If you want to know more about the title character, however,check out this postto get caught up.
