Summer Marvel movie just got hit with a major delay

There aren't that many superhero movies coming out this year. With DC Studios relaunching the DC Universe and a number of Marvel Studios movies getting delayed due to the strikes in Hollywood last year, the biggest genre in the world won't have as much to offer in 2024. In fact, both of those studios will have one theatrical release each: Joker: Folie à Deux and Deadpool and Wolverine.

There are other superhero movies this year, though, as Sony has a number of releases lined up from its universe of Marvel/Spider-Man characters. After Madame Web arrived in theaters earlier this year, the studio will also release Kraven the Hunter and Venom: The Last Dance. Unfortunately, one of those movies has been significantly delayed.

Kraven the Hunter delayed to December

As revealed by Variety, Sony has shifted its release schedule, pushing Kraven the Hunter back to December 13, 2024. The Aaron Taylor-Johnson led film was originally set for release in July, which would have given it potential to be a summer blockbuster, but now it seems that the studio is hoping that its holiday release window will allow it to serve as an R-rated alternative to the Christmas movies at the end of the year.

Things were already a bit shaky for Kraven to begin with. Sony Pictures' Universe of Spider-Man Characters has had very mixed results at the box office. Its Venom franchise has fared extremely well, with both $800 million sensations drowning out the negative reviews from critics, but anything outside of that has performed poorly, with both Morbius and Madame Web being dragged across the internet for good measure.

It's unclear how Kraven will do. The Spider-Man villain is a great choice for an origin story, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson definitely has an action hero look about him that could sell the movie (not-to-mention he's familiar with Marvel characters having played the MCU's Quicksilver). The film's first trailer pleasantly surprised people, as the potential of a stripped-back thriller serves as a welcome change from the over-the-top nature of this particular franchise, so it's definitely got some things going for it. The question is whether that will be enough to earn its $100 - 130 million budget back.

Fans have questioned the movie, specifically because it will now be going up against Disney's Mufasa as the The Lion King prequel will be released a week after Kraven, which could negatively impact its ability to appeal to moviegoers after its week of release.

It's not the only movie that the studio has moved either, with The Karate Kid, which was due to release in Kraven's new December date, now getting delayed to May 30, 2025.

It's all change for Sony's release schedule right now, but here's hoping that this move will end up benefitting Kraven the Hunter. After all, its original July release date was pretty close to Marvel Studios' Deadpool and Wolverine, which is expected to be the biggest movie of the summer (and likely year), so it might have been wise to move Kraven out of its way.