Jared Leto shares image from the set of Morbius the Living Vampire

Jared Leto shares an image from the set of Morbius, as Matt Smith is confirmed to be playing the villain.

To celebrate the end of the first week of production, Jared Leto, tweeted an image from the set of Morbius, showing he swapped out the red lipstick and grills of the Joker for fangs and plasma.

Leto will be portraying award–winning biochemist, Dr. Michael Morbius, who is plagued with an insufferable blood disease. In a desperate attempt to cure his illness, Dr. Morbius underwent a biochemical experiment involving culturing vampire bats. Instead of curing his affliction, it transformed the biochemist into an ersatz vampire adjacent to the horror monsters of legend. Morbius the Living Vampire was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane and is one of Spider–Man’s foes.

An exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter dropped the scoop that Fast and Furious actor, Tyrese Gibson, is currently in negotiations to star alongside Leto in the Morbius flick as part of Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters (SUMC) franchise. It was also revealed who former Doctor Who actor, Matt Smith, will be playing in the Spider–Man spin-off. He’ll be portraying Morbius’ friend-turned-enemy, Loxias Crown, who suffered from the same condition as the good doctor.

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Before Smith was cast, it was reported that geek culture website, That Hashtag Show, revealed who the main antagonist of the movie was. Indeed, it was Loxias Crown, as the villain was rumored to be Blade or Elias Nikos: a friend of Morbius (also revealed to be featured in the film.) There is also mention of a female lead, which turned out to be Adria Ajorna’s role, which is Martine Bancroft, Morbius’ fiancé in the comics who made her debut in the Amazing Spider–Man No.102 . Crown, who’s first appearance was in Spider–Man No.76, was a mutant as opposed to a Human-Mutate – humans with the genetic potential to become superhumans – not to be confused with Inhumans (humans exposed to the Terrigen Mist).

Morbius stars Jared Leto, Adra Arjona, Matt Smith, Jared Harris and Tyrese Gibson. Daniel Espinosa will direct from a screenplay by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama. Avi Arad, Lucas Frost and Matt Tolmach are producing for Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel while Sony Pictures will distribute. Morbius will hit theaters July 31, 2020.