You’ve gotta give it up to Sony Pictures. While it’s indeed limiting to only have access to Spider-Man and the related Marvel characters, they’ve found success with two Venom movies, bombed hard with Morbius, and have loads of other projects on the way such as Kraven the Hunter, Madame Web, and Spider-Woman. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a great example of making the most out of the situation. And now there’s a new project on the horizon with Atlanta star Donald Glover, and this is by far the most obscure Spidey character yet.
THR reports that Glover is aboard to star and produce a Hypno-Hustler film, based on the ’70s-era Spider-Man villain. Yes, he’s a product of the disco era, erupting from the fevered brains of writer Bill Mantlo and artist Frank Springer. Hypno-Hustler, real name Antoine Delsoin, is leader of a band known as the Mercy Killers, and plays a guitar that can hypnotize listeners so they can be robbed. With his back-up band joining him, he can perform mass hypnosis.
Myles Murphy, the son of Eddie Murphy, will write the screenplay. Here’s hoping they keep the musical aspect of the character.
Glover has been on the cusp of a major superhero project for some time. Most will remember that he actually had a cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Aaron Davis aka Prowler, uncle to the Miles Morales version of Spidey. There was also a failed Deadpool animated series that Glover was close to getting off the ground before it fell apart at FX.
Apparently, Glover is a big fan of Hypno-Hustler, saying “he has less Marvel cannon baggage, freeing him to greater interpretations.” So Glover is clearly invested, and let’s hope that means he makes some fun choices in terms of director, co-stars, and direction for the character. Just keep that hypno-guitar!
