‘I Have Got A Mortgage To Pay’: Morbius’ Jared Harris Talks Why He Joined The Sony Marvel Movie And Its Lack Of A ‘Sense Of Humor’

‘I Have Got A Mortgage To Pay’: Morbius’ Jared Harris Talks Why He Joined The Sony Marvel Movie And Its Lack Of A ‘Sense Of Humor’

As a long-time fan of quality storytelling and captivating performances, I must admit that my enthusiasm for superhero movies often wanes when it comes to those that are criticized across the board, like the recent example of “Morbius”. Despite Jared Leto’s best efforts as Michael Morbius, the film was a critical and commercial flop. However, I can’t help but feel empathy for the actors involved, such as Jared Harris who took on the role of Emil Nichol, given the realities of Hollywood and the financial pressures that come with making a living in this industry.


Just as not every book or film appeals to everyone, it’s important to note that some superhero movies, like “Morbius”, are met with widespread criticism. In this case, Jared Leto portrays a geneticist transforming into a vampire in an effort to cure his rare blood disease. Regrettably, the third installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was both a critical and commercial failure, even after being released in theaters twice. Despite this, it seems that actor Jared Harris took on the role primarily for financial reasons.

In the movie “Morbius”, Harris played Emil Nichol, who served as a father figure to Michael Morbius and Matt Smith’s Milo Morbius, his on-screen brother. Despite expressing reservations about Hollywood’s recent tendency towards “checking boxes” and a “mass-production” approach in storytelling during an interview with iNews, he still accepted the role in “Morbius”, which aligns with those trends for a justifiable reason:

Absolutely, I understand. I’ve got a mortgage commitment, if you will. Occasionally, I find myself agreeing to tasks for the sake of earning some extra income.

Hello! It’s important to remember that acting, like any profession, is a job for Jared Harris. While he has achieved great acclaim through roles in shows such as “Mad Men,” “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” “Lincoln,” “Chernobyl,” and “Foundation” (available on Apple TV+), these projects are means to an end, namely, earning enough money to cover his expenses. As such, while he may not have particularly enjoyed filming “Morbius,” it’s understandable given its role in providing for his livelihood. This sentiment becomes even clearer when asked about his experience on the movie, as he stated quite straightforwardly:

It appears that comedic films tend to perform better if one has a good sense of humor. They’re not like Shakespearean plays, so there could have been more playful humor in that movie.

It’s unlikely that Jared Harris will play Emil Nichol again since his character was killed off. Additionally, there’s been no news about a sequel to “Morbius,” which is not unexpected given the performance of the first film. As for Jared Leto and the Morbius character, there’s been no word yet on whether he’ll appear in any other part of Sony’s Spider-Man universe. We’ll keep you updated if anything changes.

Feel free to make up your mind about the movie “Morbius” by streaming it with a Disney+ membership. Upcoming in Sony’s series of live-action Spider-Man spinoffs is “Venom: The Last Dance,” set to release on October 25, 2024. “Kraven the Hunter” is scheduled for release on December 13, 2024, as well.

Read More

2024-09-21 00:37