Sony’s Spider-Man Universehas had quite a busy year and if the rumors are to be believed, it may be its last. From the release ofMadame Webback in February to the recent debut of the final film in theVenomtrilogy,Venom: The Last Dance, this is the first year that Sony’s particular brand of Marvel films has released more movies than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which only hadDeadpool & Wolverinein 2024 (not including series like Disney+‘sAgatha All Along). Sony’s final major release of 2024 will beJ.C. Chandor’sKraven the Hunter, debuting exclusively in theaters on July 20, 2025.
Kraven the Hunterwill followthe popularSpider-Manantagonistin his quest to become the most skilled and feared hunter in the world. Kraven’s complicated relationship with his father, Nikolai Kravinoff, will also be explored, as the two have conflicting ideologies that will clash with Kraven’s gory path of vengeance. If you wish to know more about the faces you’ll meet inKraven the Hunter,continue reading for a more in-depth look at each ofKraven’s complex characters and the actors who portray them.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter
The titular anti-hero is played by accomplished actor,Aaron Taylor-Johnson, in his first leading role in a comic book film since 2013’sKick-Ass 2. Not to mention Taylor-Johnson’s short stint asQuicksilver in Marvel’sAvengers: Age of Ultron, gives the actor a lot of experience with this sort of character. But outside the comic book genre, Taylor-Johnson has had a pretty good year, appearing in the summer blockbusterThe Fall Guy, oppositeRyan GoslingandEmily Blunt. He will also make an appearance inRobert Eggers’Nosferatu, which will make its theatrical debut on Christmas Day.
Sergei’s emotional journey begins with his troubled childhood, at the hands of his stern, controlling father. Trained from a child to an expert hunter, Sergei uses his skills as a hunter to exact his vengeance and take down trophy hunters. To boil it down, Kraven is a rich kid with special abilities and daddy issues, which makes for a different, albeit still interesting take on the Marvel character.
Russell Crowe
Nikolai Kravinoff
Russell Croweneeds no introduction. Crowe is a living legend of the film world, winning an Oscar for his breathtaking performance inRidley Scott’s Best Picture-winningGladiator, as well as receiving two additional nominations for his work in Best Picture nomineesA Beautiful MindandThe Insider.Kraven the Hunteralso marks Crowe’s fourth film in 2024, following the military thrillerLand of Bad, the crime thrillerSleeping Dogs, and the supernatural horror filmThe Exorcism.
Nikolai Kravinoff is perhaps the most complex character inKraven the Hunter. Between the tough-love demeanor he exacts towards his son from a young age to his involvement with the Russian regime from which he gained his fortune and authority, Nikolai is a man of many layers and nuances.
Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBosehas had a particularly interesting career as of late. Since her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress inSteven Spielberg’sWest Side Story,DeBose has taken on a number of different roles. Whether it be her voice performance asAsha in Disney’sWish, to her role as astronaut Kira Foster in the cosmic thrillerI.S.S., DeBose has consistently shown a vast range in the parts she chooses to take on.
This leads us to her role as Calypso inKraven the Hunter. In the comics, Calypso is a voodoo priestess who also serves as Kraven’s lover, with the two having a rather unique relationship. Calypso often likes to drive Kraven into fits of rage with the help of her supernatural abilities, which include mind control. This could lead to some compelling scenarios both inKraven the Hunterand any future installments in which the two may appear together.
Fred Hechinger
Dmitri Smerdyakov/Chameleon
Fred Hechingeris yet another actor who’s had quite the year for himself. Hechinger recently starred inGladiator II, playing one of Rome’s demented Emperors, alongside actorJoseph Quinn. He also stars in awards-darlingNickel Boysand theJune Squibb-starringThelmafrom earlier this year, culminating in a rather respectable body of work from Hechinger in 2024.
Here’s a fun fact from Marvel Comics lore:Chameleon was the very first super-villain that Spider-Man ever faced off against, all the way back toThe Amazing Spider-Man #1, which debuted in March 1963. Dmitri is the half-brother of Kraven, and from what can be gathered from the trailers, he is in direct opposition to both his brother and father, disagreeing with both parties and the ways they conduct their business. This adds a third layer to the conflict between Kraven and Nikolai, offering a third-party perspective for the audience to consider when watching the film.
Christopher Abbott
The Foreigner
Since his breakout role in 2017’sIt Comes at Nightfrom A24, actorChristopher Abbotthas made a name for himself in the indie scene. Abbott has been consistently impressing critics with his nuanced performances in films likePossessor, Sanctuary,andOscar-winnerPoor Things, andKraven the Hunteris the actor’s first foray into mainstream blockbuster filmmaking. AlongsideKraven, Abbott can soon be seen inBlumhouse’sWolf Manby director Leigh Whannell, debuting in January 2025.
The Foreigner is one of the main antagonists inKraven the Hunter.Foreigner is a mercenary and assassin who, over many years of training, has refined his particular set of skills and has sculpted his physique to keep himself in peak condition physically, making him a legitimate threat to Kraven.
Alessandro Nivola
Aleksei Sytsevich/The Rhino
For nearly 30 years, character actorAlessandro Nivolahas portrayed numerous memorable supporting characters in a wide variety of films, from action flicks like 1997’sFace/Offto arthouse dramas like 2016’sThe Neon Demonand 2014’sA Most Violent Year. Nivola can also be seen in recent Oscar contendersThe Brutalistfrom A24 andThe Room Next Doorfrom Sony Pictures Classics and directorPedro Almodóvar.
The Rhino serves as a ‘heavy’ inKraven the Hunter, a villain who poses more of a physical threat to Kraven rather than a psychological one. In a film full of antagonistic forces trying to put an end to Kraven’s bloody path of vengeance, The Rhino is perhaps the most formidable foe of the lot, at least when it comes to a one-on-one fight.
Other Actors and Actresses in ‘Kraven the Hunter’
Kraven the Hunter’s cast doesn’t end there, however. Here are some of the additional faces audiences will meet in the Sony-Marvel flick:
Levi Miller
Young Sergei
Chi Lewis-Parry
Billy Barratt
Young Dmitri
Yuri Kolokolnikov
Seymon Chorney
Michael Shaeffer
Dritan Kastrati
Oleksander
Rachel Handshaw
Cora’s Mum
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter explores the origin story of Sergei Kravinoff, known as Kraven, as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with his father, Nikolai. This path of vengeance sets Kraven on a journey to become a formidable hunter with a reputation for fearsome brutality.
