Rolling Stone UK’s latest cover features Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, who is set to have a busy final few months in 2024. In addition to playing the lead in Sony’s superhero film Kraven the Hunter (opening in theaters on August 30), he will be joining Bill Skarsgård in the horror movie Nosferatu, helmed by Robert Eggers (releasing on December 25).
Oh, did we mention he also has a supporting role in David Leitch’s flick The Fall Guy, which will arrive on May 3? Recently, the actor has been in the news for his fervent promotion of the upcoming Sony project, Kraven the Hunter. However, it appears that his efforts are falling flat with fans, as he employs the same trope that audiences have grown tired of.
Speaking about the role, he stated that if there was not something to truly bring his character to life, he would “not be playing Kraven”. As fans have noted, these lines seem to echo what Madame Web star Dakota Johnson earlier stated.
Kraven the Hunter: Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Promoting Approach Is Alienating Fans?
There is one thing, according to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, that would have prevented him from joining J. C. Chandor’s Kraven the Hunter. The movie, which is slated to be the fifth installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), centers on Taylor-Johnson’s character Sergei Kravinoff, a Russian immigrant, who is determined to establish himself as the world’s greatest hunter.
Viewers can see in the trailer how he transforms from wanting to be a hunter to becoming one of Spider-Man’s most powerful adversaries. In a recent cover story for Rolling Stone, the High Wycombe-born actor revealed details about his upcoming role:
“I think there was something unique about this character and something grounded. We’ve all had enough of seeing certain studio films, a certain kind of pop culture… where they’re churning out stuff that dilutes wanting to go to the cinema. I wouldn’t have signed onto it if I felt there wasn’t something to really bring to life with this character.”
While some fans are ecstatic about his casting decision and the effort he is making to promote the movie, others find it difficult to accept his strategy of having actors repeat lines that have been done countless times. One explanation could be that Dakota Johnson made a similar statement regarding her role in Madame Web, which ultimately turned out to be a disaster. And fans are well versed in that.
Now let us read a few tweets from fans via X:
Didn't Dakota Johnson say something like this or no
— Cameron Woodbury 🇺🇸 (@c_woodbury84) March 20, 2024
what is sony telling these poor actors to make them sign onto their movies
— •dung dung• (@RadiantLadorian) March 20, 2024
Sony shooters have guns at him trying to avoid madame web 2.0
— G7enterprise (@pinkpurp11) March 20, 2024
This is what Dakota Johnson said before Madame Web bombed.
— 𝓲𝓼𝓷𝓽𝓭𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 (@IsntDaveOne) March 20, 2024
Sony amid the Bond rumors, “we’d like to remind you about…Kraven”👀😅
— John Handem Piette (@JohnHPiette) March 20, 2024
Bold words from the guy in the follow up to Madame Web movie
— RR🧠 (@Asoegwu_) March 20, 2024
Given that Kraven the Hunter is one of the more well-known antagonists in Marvel comics, Sony is placing a significant wager on the character. That is understandable, given that Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web earned less than $100 million in revenue worldwide (via The Numbers).
Madame Web’s Dakota Johnson Disclosed If She Would Be Interested In A Follow-Up
Dakota Johnson, 34, discussed her future professional goals while taking stock of the unfavorable reviews her new film Madame Web has garnered since its February 14 release. She informed Bustle:
“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised that this has gone down the way it has. It’s so hard to get movies made, and in these big movies that get made—and it’s even starting to happen with the little ones, which is what’s really freaking me out.”
Following an overwhelming amount of negative reviews, the Sony film, which also starred Sydney Sweeney and Emma Roberts, was eventually rated 12 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. In the end, Johnson said, “Of course, it is not nice to be a part of something that is ripped to shreds, but I can not say that I do not understand”, indicating that she is not shocked by the outcome.
Despite her lack of plans to work on another high-profile project anytime soon, the Black Mass actress admitted that the experience taught her a lot. She explained further:
“I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world. And I know that now. But sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing.”
Due to the actors’ strike, Kraven the Hunter was originally scheduled to open in theaters on October 6, 2023. The remaining cast members are Christopher Abbott, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Russell Crowe, and Ariana DeBose.
J. C. Chandor’s Kraven the Hunter will now open on August 30, 2024. Also, Madame Web can be rented on Apple TV.
