Variety has confirmed that Jared Leto is now locked to star in Morbius, Sony’s next dark Spider-Man spinoff following that of Venom, bowing in theaters this October. Safe House director Daniel Espinosa will bring the Living Vampire to life.
Leto, who also played the Joker in DC’s Suicide Squad, is expected to play the title character, a scientist who, in trying to find a cure for a rare blood disease, accidentally transforms himself into a living vampire. Though disgusted by his own bloodlust, he chooses to prey upon criminals he deems unworthy of life.
Sony Pictures is going all-in on their own dark universe with plans for this October’s Venom set to lead into the Sinister Six supervillain movie.
Filming on Morbius is set to begin sometime this year for a yet-to-be-determined 2019 release.
Morbius was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane and first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #101, the first issue not written by Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee.
