A new, horror-fueled poster for Sony Pictures' Marvel spinoff film Morbius highlights the duality of Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) -- and pays homage to Tom Hardy's Venom.

The poster features a close-up shot of Morbius' face, which is split down the middle, though not quite symmetrically. On the left side, we see his normal, human face. On the right, we see the Living Vampire start to take hold -- complete with his red eyes, pale skin and sharp fangs. The poster's tagline declares, "A new Marvel legend arrives."

RELATED: Morbius: Spider-Man Spinoff Releases Jared Leto's Dramatic Transformation Scene

The image is eerily reminiscent of the main poster used to promote Sony's 2018 Marvel spinoff film Venom, starring Tom Hardy as the Lethal Protector. That poster, which is a bit more symmetrical in its composition, shows half of the human face of Hardy's Eddie Brock as the other half is taken over by the Venom symbiote. 2018's Venom ultimately received a sequel in the form of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which released in theaters earlier this year.

Notably, Sony seems to be leaning hard into the idea of its various Spider-Man spinoff films being connected, with Morbius himself even name-dropping Venom in Morbius' official trailer, which was released early last month. "I am Venom," Morbius says before growling and flashing his fangs. "I'm just kidding. It's Dr. Michael Morbius, at your service."

RELATED: First Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 Footage Debuts Spider-Man 2099

Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Morbius the Living Vampire first appeared in 1971's Amazing Spider-Man #101. While Morbius began life as a villain, battling the likes of Spider-Man and Blade, the character eventually evolved into an anti-hero in his own right, and has starred in multiple solo series over the years.

Prior to Sony greenlighting a Morbius solo film starring Leto in the title role, the Living Vampire appeared in a deleted scene from New Line Cinema's 1998 Marvel film Blade, played by director Stephen Norrington. There were tentative plans for Morbius to appear in Guillermo del Toro's Blade II in 2002, though Marvel ultimately denied the director the rights to the character.

RELATED: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Writer Confirms Parts 1 and 2 Are Being Made At the Same Time

In addition to Leto, Sony's Morbius stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson. Moreover, the film sees Michael Keaton reprise his role as Adrian Toomes/Vulture from Sony and Marvel Studios' 2017 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Catch the rise of the Living Vampire when Morbius hits theaters on Jan. 28, 2022.

KEEP READING: Death of Doctor Strange Brings Blade's Most Iconic Scene to Comics

Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment