After months of speculation surrounding Sony Picture’s plans to develop a Morbius The Living Vampire film, Sony has reportedly signed on Jared Leto, who infamously played ‘The Joker’ in Warner Bros’ Suicide Squad, to star in the film as the titular character.
The casting comes a year after Sony revealed its plans to create a spinoff cinematic universe outside of its Spider-Man franchise.
Daniel Espinosa (Safe House and Life) has been tapped to bring Marvel’s leading vampire hero to the big screen, with Lost in Space writers, Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, helming the script.
Morbius was created in 1971 by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane for The Amazing Spider-Man #101. The character was a scientist named Michael Morbius, who tried to cure himself of a blood disease, with tragic results. He became afflicted with vampire-like physical traits, including fangs and a thirst for blood, and ended up battling Spider-Man.