Movies

Marvel’s Sentry Actor Nearly Starred in Kraven the Hunter Flop—Here’s Why He Dodged Disaster

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Lewis Pullman, who portrayed the antagonist Sentry in Thunderbolts, narrowly avoided a significant setback when he was almost cast in a disappointing Spider-Man spin-off film. For years, Sony had been constructing a separate universe of Spider-Man villain spin-offs, which ran concurrently with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, after Marvel Studios returns this year with movies like Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four, it appears that Sony has decided to step away from their Spider-Man-related universe. This decision seems to mark the end of their Spider-Man-adjacent universe in 2024 following the financial and critical failure of Kraven the Hunter.

In a recent chat with Kristian Harloff, Lewis Pullman, who plays Sentry in Thunderbolts, revealed he tried out for a part related to Kraven the Hunter. If Pullman had secured the villainous Spider-Man role, it would likely have meant giving up the part of Sentry and all the success that accompanies it.

Although Pullman didn’t explicitly state which character he might have been pursuing within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSMU), there were many speculations suggesting Chameleon was his target. Interestingly, the actor who eventually got that role, Fred Hechinger, shares a resemblance and style reminiscent of Pullman, although Hechinger is slightly younger at 25 years old compared to Pullman’s age of 32.

People frequently express the idea that “Every event has its purpose,” and this sentiment seems particularly applicable to Pullman, as it appears he may have stumbled upon good fortune by missing out on “Kraven the Hunter.” After all, that movie seemed to signal the conclusion of the SSMU, while Sentry is preparing for a promising future within the MCU following his confirmed reappearance in “Avengers 5” after “Thunderbolts.

In spite of widespread criticism of their films, the SSMU successfully recruited big-name talents like those from ‘Venom’ and ‘Kraven the Hunter’. This franchise has drawn in A-list actors such as Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Jared Leto, and Sydney Sweeney, who have breathed life into their somewhat average screenplays.

In simple terms, the film featuring Kraven the Hunter received a 15% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a “C” grade from viewers on CinemaScore. This places it among the lowest-scoring superhero movies ever made. Additionally, its financial performance was lackluster, earning only $62 million globally against a production budget of $110 million. As a result, Sony Pictures suffered substantial losses.

In December 2024, the movie “Kraven the Hunter” was released in cinemas but failed at the box office. The cast of this film features actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Fred Hechinger, Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, and others.

Lately, Lewis Pullman has been added to the cast of Thunderbolts (also known as The New Avengers) in the role of Sentry. This movie is now showing in theaters. Alongside him are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell (learn about his character’s blunder involving a famous Marvel shield), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Lewis Pullman’s Big MCU Future as Sentry Explained

With thunderous cheers echoing, Sentry takes the stage and swiftly wins over fans with his extraordinary abilities and Lewis Pullman’s impressive portrayal. Fortunately for enthusiasts, they won’t have to wait too long to catch more of Bob Reynolds on-screen, as it has been officially confirmed that Sentry will reappear in “Avengers: Doomsday” next year.

In the upcoming film “Avengers 5“, Bob has officially become a part of the New Avengers team. For now, he has managed to keep The Void under his control. However, it seems that he is deliberately avoiding using his powers because their use could potentially unleash The Void again. But don’t be surprised if we see him fully embracing the Sentry role in “Doomsday“.

It’s possible that in the process, he might unwillingly reawaken his troubled self, causing conflicts with his fellow superheroes once more. This scenario could serve to showcase Sentry’s strength even more, as he engages in battles with notable MCU figures like Thor, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange.

Paul Jenkins, the creator of Sentry, shared ahead of the “Thunderbolts” podcast on “Superheroes of Arabia”, that he has a contract with Marvel. He mentioned that if the character receives a standalone movie in the future, he would pen the script himself. It’s possible that the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) narrative might accommodate Sentry, an emerging character, to have his own feature film.

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2025-05-11 12:11

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