Donald Glover is heading back to the Marvel Universe. Just not the one you care about.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor is set to produce and star in a Sony’s Spider-Man Universe movie based around the Hypo-Hustler for Sony. That’s right, Sony is back at it again with a film centered around a minor Spider-Man villain no one probably knew existed until right now.
Created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Frank Springer, Antoine Delsoin/Hypno-Hustler first appeared in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #24 in 1978. He is the leader of a band called the Mercy Killers and used hypnosis technology in his instruments on his audience in order to rob them. Not very disco of you, Mr. Hypno-Hustler.
Myles Murphy (the son of comedian Eddie Murphy) will write the film’s script. No director or additional cast has been announced at this time.
So, how will Glover and Murphy make a Hypno-Hustler film that people actually want to go out and see? Well, THR sources have stated that “Glover sparked to the musical aspect of the character and the fact that he has less Marvel canon baggage, freeing him to greater interpretations. The project could be anything from a disco period piece to a re-imagined modern hip-hop version or even a cyberpunk future play.”
Okay, I’m open to seeing what Glover can do with this meaningless character, but c’mon, we all would rather see a Marvel Studios-produced Prowler film if we had to choose, right? I mean, what’s the point of casting Glover as Aaron Davis if you’re only going to use him for a small cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming? Bring him back! He’s Miles Morales’ uncle for crying out loud!
Hypno-Hustler will be part of the SSU, which was launched in 2018 with Venom. Other films in that shared universe include Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Morbius, with Kraven the Hunter, Madame Web, and El Muerto in various stages of development.
No release date for Hypno-Hustler has been announced at this time. We’ll keep you posted.
Are you at all interested in this film? Or would you rather see Glover return for a Prowler film?
