It seems like Sony has more projects on the burner for the Spider-Man spin-off movie universe than we had thought. Developed in secret, it has come to light that the studio is moving forward with a movie based on Morbius, the Living Vampire. According to a new report, this script has been submitted and the studio is set to get it in front of a camera, which means that they have to find a director to helm this project. No director’s names have been brought up in the report about the next Spider-Man spin-off for Sony’s standalone Marvel Universe.
The movie, titled Morbius, was written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, who wrote the live-action Power Rangers movie for Saban and Lionsgate. The credits include God’s of Egypt, Dracula Untold, and The Last Witch Hunter.
While no plot details have been revealed, this movie will center on Morbius the Living Vampire, who had started out as a Spider-Man villain, but then managed to become a hero. This movie, like Venom, which is now in production, will not be connected to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and MCU.
Morbius, the Living Vampire made his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #101. The issue is significant because it is the first issue which was not penned by Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee. Though a vampire by title, Morbius is not a vampire in any traditional sense. The character had gained a thirst for blood which he needs to stay alive after running experiments on himself to cure a rare blood disease. It had some negative side-effects that turned him into a vampire of sorts. His bite kills victims, but unlike regular vampires, it does not turn them into vampires.
Morbius can fly and also possesses superhuman strength. Following the debut in The Amazing Spider-Man, this character was given his series for a time and had been featured in other titles. He is a tragic character but manages to redeem the initial bout of villainy by becoming a hero. Morbius was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane.
Marvel Studios and Sony had struck a deal that allows for Spider-Man to be part of MCU, but Sony owns the rights to Spider man’s rogue’s gallery of characters. They have decided to make some spin-off movies using the characters that will not include Spider-Man in them. There are many questions about how that is going to work, but a project like Morbius does not need Spider-Man to function.
In the early days of comic book movies, Marvel’s Blade was brought to the theatres and found modest success. Morbius represents a new element for vampires and comic book movies, as he is a vampire created by sciences as opposed to the supernatural. The Hollywood Reporter does not mention a potential release date, but this project sounds like it is in the early stages.
