Despite dodgy reviews, Venom did solid business and has a sequel in the works. Sony has naturally leapt on the chance to develop its own Spider-Man-centric universe, which means we now get a straggly-haired Jared Leto going from disease afflicted doctor to buff vampire antihero in the Morbius trailer.
The focus here is Leto's Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble, exposing himself to what he hopes is a cure. What at first appears to be a radical success soon reveals itself to be a remedy potentially worse than the disease. He becomes a living vampire, blessed with the strength, agility of the undead (and, er, echo location), and cursed with a craving for blood! Bluh bluh bluh!
Often an antagonist for Spidey, this take – directed by Daniel Espinosa – appears to be exploring the conflicted hero route, much as Venom adapted the more recent vision for that character. Adria Arjona, Tyrese Gibson, Jared Harris and (briefly) Matt Smith.
And more intriguingly, Michael Keaton pops up at the end in a surprise cameo, and while the studio hasn't confirmed anything, it points to him potentially bringing Spider-Man: Homecoming's Vulture to this movie, which means Morbius is part of the MCU.... We'll find out more when the movie arrives on 31 July.