‘Kraven the Hunter’ Just Introduced Spider-Man’s Oldest Enemy

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  • Who Is The Chameleon in Marvel Comics?
  • The Spider-Man Movies Don’t Know What to Do with Chameleon
  • Chameleon Would Make for a Different ‘Spider-Man 4’

As a longtime fan of the Spider-Man universe who has followed every twist and turn since the days of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield swinging through the city, I must say that it’s high time we bring the enigmatic Chameleon into the fold. With his shape-shifting abilities, this character offers a unique perspective that could breathe fresh air into the upcoming Spider-Man 4.

The much-anticipated film, Kraven the Hunter, has made its long-delayed debut in cinemas, not with a grand entrance but a quiet start. Originally slated for release on January 13, 2023, Kraven the Hunter has arrived almost two years late. The movie has received harsh criticism from critics, and it’s predicted to have one of the smallest opening weekends among comic book adaptations. In this new interpretation, Kraven the Hunter is portrayed by Aaron-Taylor Johnson as a vigilante hunter of humans, rather than animals.

Although Kraven the Hunter is a typical adversary in the Spider-Man universe, the film titled “Kraven the Hunter” deviates from this pattern by not featuring or even referencing him. Instead, it focuses on other characters related to Spider-Man, such as Calypso, Rhino, and The Foreigner. Interestingly, this movie also introduces Spider-Man’s first supervillain, Chameleon, but fails to fully utilize him. Since Chameleon and Kraven are half-brothers in the comics, his presence in the film was expected. Despite numerous Spider-Man films featuring many of his iconic foes, it seems that Chameleon has been largely neglected. It’s high time for Chameleon, whether he’s the version from “Kraven the Hunter” or one adapted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to appear as a villain in future Spider-Man movies.

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Who Is The Chameleon in Marvel Comics?

In March 1963, the character of Chameleon first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comic book #1, and was brought to life by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Known as Dmitri Smerdyakov, The Chameleon marked Spider-Man’s initial comic book villain, excluding the Burglar from Amazing Fantasy #15 who killed Uncle Ben. This cunning character has a knack for disguising himself, capable of imitating anyone with ease. Initially, he used makeup and intricate costumes to mimic his targets, but later acquired a unique belt that utilizes holographic technology to enable him to impersonate any individual.

In time, it was confirmed that he was Kraven the Hunter’s half-brother. The Chameleon shares a complicated history with Kraven, as Kraven frequently mistreated his younger sibling during their childhood years. However, after Kraven’s demise in “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” the Chameleon developed an intense desire for revenge against Spider-Man. To achieve this, he ingested a serum that transformed his facial features into a flexible mask.

Although Chameleon was initially Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis, he occupies a lower rank within Spider-Man’s rogues gallery. Unlike the heavyweights such as Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom, Chameleon doesn’t hold the same prominence. He is often overshadowed by characters like Sandman, Mysterio, and even his brother Kraven the Hunter. In essence, Chameleon stands among other villains such as Shocker and Scorpion, who are notable Spider-Man adversaries but not the main threats.

The Spider-Man Movies Don’t Know What to Do with Chameleon

In “Kraven the Hunter,” Fred Hechinger portrays the character Dmitri Smerdyakov. Given Hechinger’s impressive lineup of films in 2024, including notable roles in “Thelma,” “The Nickel Boys,” and “Gladiator II,” it’s disheartening that the character of Dmitri and even Hechinger himself are underutilized in “Kraven the Hunter.” The storyline has Dmitri getting kidnapped by a rival gang, which forces Kraven to rescue him. In the film’s conclusion, Dmitri chooses to assume control over his father’s criminal empire, an organization that Kraven had been aiming to dismantle throughout the movie.

In the movie, instead of having The Chameleon as the primary antagonist for Kraven the Hunter right away, it opts to focus on his origins as a separate storyline. This could have provided a more engaging sequel plot involving Kraven hunting down his brother, but unfortunately, that never materialized.

Yet it isn’t like the MCU is any better with Chameleon. Many might have forgotten, but the MCU version of Chameleon was introduced in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Played by actor Numan Acar, Dimitri (identified as Demitir Smerdyakov in the end credits) is an agent working for Nick Fury (actually Talos), who possesses Peter Parker’s bus driver during his European vacation. However, nothing in the film identifies him or ties him to his comic book counterpart, despite the MCU introducing masked technology in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that would perfectly explain Chameleon. It is unclear why Marvel decided to make this character Chameleon. The only hint is that the movie features Mysterio as the main villain, and this could be a callback to The Spectacular Spider-Man, which introduced Quentin Beck as an associate of Chameleon before becoming Mysterio.

Although movie makers have shown interest in featuring Kraven the Hunter, such as Ryan Coogler intending him for Black Panther, and being a secondary antagonist if the multiverse storyline for Spider-Man: No Way Home didn’t pan out, there has been little enthusiasm to introduce The Chameleon on screen. Given that both Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Man: Far From Home seem to have missed opportunities for the character, there are numerous intriguing prospects for The Chameleon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Chameleon Would Make for a Different ‘Spider-Man 4’

In the animated series “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” it has been confirmed that a chameleon will make an appearance, but this series exists in a universe separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The ending of “Kraven the Hunter” may not lead to any payoff, leaving many plot threads unresolved. However, just because the storyline involving Chameleon isn’t resolved in this universe doesn’t mean his character arc is over. It would be intriguing to see Chameleon as a primary antagonist in the upcoming “Spider-Man 4” movie.

Transforming Chameleon into the antagonist in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 would bring a fresh twist to the usual Spider-Man tale. With the character’s ability to impersonate anyone, the film could take on a suspenseful tone, as Spider-Man grapples with trust issues. Even when his spider-sense alerts him to danger, he might struggle to pinpoint the source if Chameleon is masquerading as someone close to Peter Parker, making it difficult for him to distinguish friends from foes.

Although it appears unlikely that Fred Hechinger will reprise his role as Chameleon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe given the apparent conclusion of the Sony Spider-Man Universe, there remains a possibility for him to return. This could be achieved by having Hechinger portray one of the various disguises that Chameleon assumes, much like Evan Peters’s role as Ralph Bohner in ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ was a nod to his past portrayal of Quicksilver in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’. In essence, the flexibility of the Chameleon character allows for multiple actors, including Hechinger, Acar, or even members of Spider-Man’s supporting cast, to potentially play the part as Chameleon disguises himself.

As I sat down to watch the latest trailer for Spider-Man 4, I initially thought Chameleon might be a bit light as the main antagonist. However, upon reflection, it seems Sony Pictures and Marvel are setting up something much grander – The Sinister Six.

Yet the MCU Spider-Man has established plenty of secondary villains that could theoretically team up to form the MCU version of The Sinister Six. Shocker (Bookem Woodbine) and Scorpion (Michael Mando) are still active players that Chameleon could team up with. That makes three, and if Michael Keaton’s Vulture somehow managed to return to the MCU after being transported to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe at the end of Morbius, that would make four. With two spots open, the MCU could introduce their version of Kraven the Hunter. If they didn’t want to feature him or any other villains that have recently appeared in live-action, like the multiverse villains from Spider-Man: No Way Home, there are still plenty of villains to choose from, like Tombstone, Man-Wolf, Hobgoblin, and Mister Negative to name a few.

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2024-12-14 01:01