Culture news ‘They couldn’t explain it to me’ Michael Keaton doesn’t understand his role in the film Morbius. Marvel and Sony’s MCU is going into a tailspin
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been inexorably losing its luster since the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and even its more than sluggish marriage with Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (or SSU) changes nothing. If some actors still defend the MCU including Chris Evans (formerly Captain America), others are starting to express doubts. This is the case of actor Michael Keaton who looks back on his appearance in the film Morbius with Jared Leto in the lead.
Morbius, a critical and commercial failure
The interest of fans of Spider-Man and more generally of comics in the villainous vampire is relative to say the least. Morbius clearly does not stir up crowds, and its film adaptation is edifying proof of that. With a budget (excluding marketing costs) estimated between 75 and 83 million US dollars, the film directed by Daniel Espinosa only grossed 167.5 million, which barely covers the sums committed by Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment. In addition, the press feedback was particularly harsh on the feature film, which only convinced 15% of critics (score of 15% on RottenTomatoes).
However, this score must be put into perspective. In fact, 71% of spectators left the cinema “seduced” after seeing Morbius. Sony had however put all the chances on its side by teasing the arrival of another character directly from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange played by Benedict Cumberbatch forces the whole world to forget the secret identity of Spider-Man played by Tom Holland. This has the consequences of disrupting space-time and opening the doors to the multiverse. Defectors from the “Spider-Man” sagas then move from one universe to another. Venom arrives in the MCU while Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture comes to the SSU in the guise of Michael Keaton.
Michael Keaton is just as lost as the fans
Plot twist! The main person concerned still does not understand his cameo in Morbius. Remember! Michael Keaton appears in a post-credits scene and urges Jared Leto (Morbius) to join forces to hunt down Spider-Man. Following the critical and surely commercial failure of Madame Web, the American actor spoke at Josh Horowitz’s microphone during his podcast Happy Sad Confused. The latter seems just as lost as the spectators about his presence in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. The thinking heads of Hollywood probably had to consider forming the Sinister Six (a group of popular villains) before introducing the Weaver into this universe, but nothing is less certain after the debacle of Madame Wen in theaters. It remains at SSU Kraven The Hunter then Venom 3, both planned this year in cinemas, to restore the image of a saga which leaves the box office unmoved.
I’ve no idea. I mean I don’t know anything about it. One day they came. They said, “OK, but they couldn’t explain it. I said, “I don’t really understand what you’re talking about, or who all these people are.” They tried to explain it to me, but it was was complicated because they always project themselves into the future. That’s how they work, that’s how it’s going to happen. I said to myself: “Okay, I’m in, we’ll will try”.