The first trailer for Morbius, starring Jared Leto as Michael Morbius, debuted this week. To say it shocked the world would be the understatement of the century. No one expected the action-horror approach that director Daniel Espinosa took, as well as the surprising cameo, in the latest addition to Sony's Spider-Verse.
To be fair, Morbius is a vampire and has always been a character with deep horror elements -- much like Blade. Yet, most filmmakers have shied away from the horror-themed approach, even though the likes of The Crow and the original Blade trilogy paved the way for this subgenre of comic book movies over two decades ago.
The irony is horror-themed comic books have done well for years, proving to be particularly popular among mature readers. The fact that Hollywood hasn't figured this out is nothing short of astounding. There are numerous properties, such as American Vampire, Wytches and Ice Cream Man, begging for adaptations, but many of them are either stuck in the cogs of the development machine or unknown to producers.
This year, though, could prove to be pivotal for horror in superhero films. First up is The New Mutants, a film that's been in production hell for so long no one believed it would ever see the light of day. One of the biggest sticking points appeared to be director Josh Boone's original vision to make the movie a horror story, while the studio wanted a more traditional superhero affair. After years in limbo, Boone seemingly won the battle and his version of the film is due for release in April.
Three months later, Morbius will swoop in and sink its fangs into the box office. Considering the lack of build up and news about the production, not many people believed it would make a dent upon arrival. Yet, judging by the reaction to the first trailer, the hype is real. Even for non-superhero fans, this film holds appeal because it's different from everything typically seen in the genre.
It's this boldness that differentiates the movie, and it might be the antidote to comic book movie fatigue in the long run. While superheroes are still dominating both film and television, the genre requires fresh ideas and angles to stay relevant. After all, it's the lack of innovation that turns a bona fide success into a tired trope in no time.
DC Universe's now-canceled Swamp Thing served as an example of what's possible when creators play outside of the traditional box and are allowed freedom to experiment. While the show's cancellation was due to boardroom politics, no one could fault its creativity or ambition. In a genre of sameness, Swamp Thing added color, depth and substance to the landscape.
Whereas Swamp Thing is likely done and dusted, its horror brethren could spark the next revolution. While Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. have been touch-and-go about horror comic book movies in the past, they will undoubtedly re-evaluate their respective slates if The New Mutants and Morbius do well at the box office.
Even if the aforementioned films aren't box-office successes, it's vital to appreciate the creative risks taken and the desire to do something out of the ordinary. In a time when studios are making films by committee and walking on eggshells around their properties' fan bases, a movie like Morbius is proof that comic book movies haven't quite peaked yet. There's still room for so much more.
Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Morbius stars Jared Leto as the titular character, Matt Smith as Loxias Crown, Adria Arjona as Martine Bancroft, Tyrese Gibson as Agent Stroud and Jared Harris in an undisclosed role. The film arrives July 31.