Villain and lead character details on Sony’s ‘Morbius’

Leto is taking the lead in the Daniel Espinosa picture, bringing to life Dr. Michael Morbius, who first appeared in 1971’s The Amazing Spider-Man #101. Morbius is a biochemist who in an attempt to cure a fatal blood disease injects himself with a treatment serum derived from bats. Morbius is transformed into a creature with vampire-like traits, including super strength and reflexes and a thirst for human blood. Morbius was never a willing villain, but his vampiric blood lust didn’t make it easy for him. Over the years, Morbius has been more hero than villain and has always searched for a cure to his transformation.

Sony is currently searching for two additional leads for the film. Espinosa, working from a draft from Mark Shazama and Burk Sharpless, will pit Morbius up against an unnamed villain who was once a friend, but turns on him following his transformation. The casting department was auditioning males, 30-40 years old for the role with actors Riz Ahmed and Rami Malek held in mind as prototypes for the role. It’s likely that this role will be an adaptation of Emil Nikos, Morbius’ friend and partner from the comics, who was also his first victim.