Sony Developing Spider-Man Spinoff About Morbius the Living Vampire

Marvel's Morbius the Living Vampire is getting his own movie, which is being developed by Sony as part of its Spider-Man spinoff universe.

THR reports that Power Rangers movie writers Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama are handling the script, which has already been submitted to Sony after a secret development process. Sharpless and Sazama also have some supernatural action films under their collective belts; although, since those films are Dracula Untold, The Last Witch Hunter and Gods of Egypt, Marvel fans may not be too thrilled with having them on board.

We here at Comicbook.com recently wrote about 5 Marvel Horror Movies worth making (following the example of Fox's New Mutants), and here's what we had to say:

"Morbius is, in a lot of ways, like Doctor Strange: a brash and talented doctor searches for a cure to his affliction, and ends up stumbling into a entire new reality he never knew existed. The main difference is that the Doctor Strange movie transported Marvel movie fans into the metaphysical worlds of "magic" and multiverse theory; Morbius would take a normal man on a journey into a frightening world of the occult, while also providing a great "man vs. his savage nature" thematic arc that has been sorely missing from the modern vampire genre. The crossover potential with characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, or the Darkhold Redeemers also makes this a good pick."

If you're not familiar with the character: Morbius "The Living Vampire" is actually biochemist Michael Morbius, who tried to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but instead infected himself with a form of quasi-vampirism, which include both the power (strength, speed, flight) and weaknesses (bloodlust, aversion to light) of a vampire. He was originally a villain who battled characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men, always searching for a cure to his disease, but he eventually he became an anti-hero who fed on the blood of the guilty.

Sony's Spider-Man spinoff universe is steadily shaping up to be a much darker and edgier brand, which will kick-off with Tom Hardy's Venom movie, and continue with the crime-heist action flick, Silver & Black, featuring Silver Sable and Black Cat.

No word yet on a release date for Morbius, or any casting or director candidates. We'll keep you updated.

Header Photo: UncannyKnack @ DeviantART