Jared Leto is Morbius, the Living Vampire, pending some final negotiations.
Deadline broke the news earlier today that Leto, best known for Suicide Squad, Dallas Buyers Club and being the frontman of 30 Seconds to Mars, is prepared to spearhead Sony’s latest Spider-Man spinoff with Daniel Espinosa (Life) on directing duties.
We know the studio is plotting its own Marvel universe with characters like Venom, Nightwatch, Silk and the long-in-development Silver & Black movie, and it all begins with the launch of Eddie Brock’s solo film this October.
But for those worried that Jared Leto’s involvement in Morbius will affect his ongoing commitment to the DC Extended Universe and its many Joker-related projects – namely Joker and Harley Quinn and Warner’s newfangled solo movie, not to be confused with the Todd Phillips-directed offshoot that has Joaquin Phoenix attached to star – Variety has published a follow-up report that ought to allay any fears.
Essentially, the outlet mentions that besides promoting his new album “America” with Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jared Leto has “been busy setting up a film slate that includes a solo Joker movie at Warner Bros. Sources say this film [Morbius] does not affect that role.”
That’s reassuring to hear, as Warner Bros. has already doubled down on his portrayal of the Joker – perhaps not to the extent of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, but three future projects is not to be balked at – and may have been forced to cancel, or at the very least postpone, one movie so that Morbius may live.
Speaking of which, we’ll leave you with a brief introduction to doomed biochemist Dr. Michael Morbius and the plight he faces:
This is a horror action story of a scientist who, in trying to find a cure for a rare blood disease, accidentally transformed himself into a living vampire who, though disgusted by his own bloodlust, chooses to prey upon criminals he deems unworthy of life.