Manu Bennett
A year or two has gone by now since Sony and Marvel finally reached a deal to put everyone’s favorite web-slinger, Spider-Man, into the MCU, but it seems that Sony isn’t done with the property just yet. Along with Tom Hardy’s upcoming Venom film, Sony plans to release a solo Kraven the Hunter movie as well, putting the gruff Russian villain on the silver screen for the first time ever. Kraven is of course usually a villain, but the hero of his own story, and there are many of the rough, muscular Hollywood elite that could fit into the role. With Sony already landing Tom Hardy to helm a solo film about a villain, the sky is the limit, and I plan to use that to my advantage when suggesting actors for this role.
Manu Bennett might not be the most popular actor in the world, but the truth is he would make a terrific Kraven. If you’ve seen his performance as Slade Wilson (Deathstroke) on Arrow, then you know that he can play the gruff, psychotic tough guy as well as any man on the planet, and is in impeccable physical condition. This could be Manu’s chance to really break into the top tier of actors in Tinsel Town and give fans a comic accurate Kraven the Hunter that we are all undoubtedly yearning to get.
Hugh Jackman
Wolverine himself is an obvious choice for a character cut from this kind of rough-and-tumble cloth, and fans everywhere would likely lose their marbles over Jackman starring in another comic book movie. Hugh is a likely favorite for the role of the burly Russian and is versatile enough to give any kind of performance in any accent. With some striking similarities between this character and his role in the X-Men franchise, it would be no surprise if he blew the role out of the water, and really gave Sony a blockbuster hit to put on their resume.
Gerard Butler
The king of the tough guys and always rough around the edges, Gerard Butler playing Kraven is a fancaster’s dream. Leonidas himself playing one of Spider-Man’s deadliest foes, and let alone in his own movie! There’s no doubt that everyone wants this to happen, and it would make one fantastic movie if it did.
Liev Schreiber
The other end of the spectrum from Hugh Jackman, Wolverine’s evil older brother would also make an adequate Kraven the Hunter. Even though X-Men Origins: Wolverine wasn’t the best movie, Schreiber still managed to play an absolute savage, and that is something that he’s cut out for doing again. A little star power mixed with the fact that he’s absolutely perfect for the role is sure to draw people to the box office, make people take an interest in the character before he hits the big screen.
Kit Harington
As far as looks go, Kraven the Hunter is basically Jon Snow with a Russian accent, so who better to play him than Jon Snow with a Russian accent? Kit Harington is in as good of shape as any man can get, and with his little show Game of Thrones ending, this movie could put him in place to break out as an up-and-coming action star. Harington is a familiar face, and no stranger to having to be in extensive action scenes, meaning that he has the potential to make an excellent Kraven.
Luke Evans
Luke Evans being cast as Kraven the Hunter is a chance to really tear the character straight from the comics. Evans shares a striking resemblance to the big game hunter and has shown in several roles over his career that he can play anyone under any circumstance. This is a choice that makes sense for both the studio and the fans, and an option that I feel Sony and Marvel should seriously pursue.
Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello is a giant beast of a man, and his physique alone could make him the best choice for the role. Even though he already has a role as Deathstroke in the DCEU, he is absolutely blowing up right now, and there’s no law that says you can’t play for both teams. Joe is an obvious, go-to choice for the burly Russian villain, and could give an exemplary performance to set Sony’s would be Spider-verse on a strong course for success.
Keanu Reeves
Although he’s not exactly known for his diverse acting skill, I think that the seasoned action star Keanu Reeves has become is a perfect match for who will play Kraven the Hunter. The new look he’s rocking in films like John Wick with a near shoulder-length mane and grown out facial hair compliments the features of the unruly Russian, and you can’t get much more star power than casting Neo himself. Putting Keanu in a Marvel superhero movie is sure to make anyone raise an eyebrow at the thought, and could truly make good on a universe that looks promising so far.
Norman Reedus
While Reedus is still involved in the widely popular and successful TV show The Walking Dead, he is in deceptively amazing shape and is just waiting for a huge movie opportunity to put him in prime position for a lengthy acting career. If Norman were able to nail down a Russian accent, he would have no problem being the main man on the marque for this film, yet still might have something to prove to some fans. I believe that this would put a lot of buzz around the role and that Norman Reedus’ performance would put a lot of people in their place when it comes to his casting.
Brad Pitt
Ok, so maybe suggesting Brad Pitt for the role is stretching a bit, but how cool would it be? Brad Pitt playing a giant, muscular supervillain in his own solo movie; talk about blowing it out of the water! He’s still one of the most popular and ranged actors in Hollywood, and could bring this string of movies into the spotlight.
What do you think? Who should play Kraven the Hunter? Let me know @jacomalfoy1 on Twitter!
[td_smart_list_end]
Kraven the Hunter was created by Stan Lee and is considered to be one of the greatest comic book villains of all time. As such the actor who will portray Kraven in movie adaptations must be chosen with care.
The character Kraven the Hunter has made an appearance in numerous Marvel Comics, particularly in the Spider-Man franchise. However, few remember his origin story. Kraven the Hunter first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 way back in 1964!
Another little known fact is that Kraven the Hunter was born in Russia and is half-brother to another popular villain. Who is Kraven’s brother? None other than Dmitri Smerdyakov – the Chameleon!
Kraven’s biggest rise to popularity with the issue of the Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven’s Hunt. Kraven’s Hunt was released in 2008 and has become a relatively saught after comic since then. I was unable to find any copies locally but managed to find one online. Amazon has a few softcovers, as well as the limited hardcovers of Kraven’s Hunt, for sale. Once Kraven gets his movie it is likely that these comics will get even harder to find.