Director Daniel Espinosa admitted that he probably wasn’t the best choice to direct Morbius, and reflected on his experience with superhero movies.
After several delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Morbius finally hits theaters in the United States in April 2022. Starring Jared Leto, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe movie received negative reviews from fans and critics alike. Despite everything, it managed to gross around $167.5 million at the worldwide box office. However, Sony’s attempt to re-release the film in June 2022 after it became the subject of several Internet images added an additional $300,000 to its total.
Daniel Espinosa about the film
In an interview with Deadline, Espinosa talked about his experience directing Morbius. “It’s very difficult to make a film by committee, and in the end I felt that maybe another director would be a better choice,” he said. “I’m known to the studios for being a very imaginative person, and maybe they’re not looking for that kind of director.”
Espinosa, known for films like Easy Money (2010), Safe House (2012), Child 44 (2015) and Life (2017), seems to reflect that his directorial style may not quite fit in with the studio’s expectations for Morbius. . With a history of highly controlled projects, Espinosa admits that his experience with Morbius may have been more challenging than expected.
The impact on the box office and critics
The film’s negative reception and box office performance highlight how the film could face major obstacles, even with a household name like Jared Leto in the lead role. Sony’s attempt to re-release the film following the meme’s popularity is an unusual strategy, and unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a significant increase in revenue.
Despite his challenges with Morbius, Espinosa continued his brilliant work. Her next film Madame Luna was recently screened at the Taormina Film Festival. In addition, he directed an eight-part thriller series for Netflix titled Helicopter Heist, which premieres later this year. These upcoming projects demonstrate Espinosa’s ability to continue to thrive and diversify in the entertainment industry.
The cast of Morbius and the future of his character
In addition to Leto, Morbius stars Matt Smith as Lucien/Milo Morbius, Adria Arjona as Dr. Martin Bancroft, Jared Harris as Dr. Emil Nicholas, Al Madrigal as Al Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson as Simon Strode. So far, Sonny Lito has not announced formal plans to return to play Michael Morbius in the future.
The next installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is Venom: The Last Dance, which hits theaters on October 25, followed by Kraven the Hunter on December 13. These releases will continue to expand Sony’s cinematic universe with Spider-Man, hoping for even more success than Morbius.
Final thoughts on Espinosa’s adaptation
For those interested in seeing Morbius, the film is available on Disney+, giving fans the chance to judge Jared Letton’s performance as the enigmatic living vampire for themselves.
Espinosa’s self-criticism and recognition that he might not be the best choice for Morbius is rare in the industry, and highlights his integrity and professional attitude. This experience served as a lesson for both him and the studios about the importance of finding the right director for each project and how creative differences can affect the final result.