Morbius is maybe the worst film that fans have ever requested to be re-released in theatres. The vampiric Spider-Man spin-off is Sony Pictures' latest wall-crawling side narrative, aimed at fleshing out the tiny characters who surround Peter Parker. Since the webhead is off having fun in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Sony Spider-Man Universe has provided as a venue for the studio to benefit from their Marvel portfolio without having to acknowledge the Marvel Studios canon (at least too much).
Morbius arrived with a dismal thud, unlike the first two Venom features, which were at least financially successful. The picture was critically criticised at its initial release in April, and it also performed poorly at the box office.
However, Jared Leto's blood-sucking journey has gained popularity as a meme on the internet in recent weeks. This has prompted many people to - somewhat ironically - express their delight for the film, causing Sony to act and re-release the film in theatres.
There will be more Morbius in the future
Morbius, the Jared Leto-led Marvel Legend, will return to over 1,000 select theatres globally on Friday, June 3rd, following its viral social media campaign.
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The latest Spider-Man spin-off from Sony was released in early April to critical acclaim. The idea, however, has been given a second life after becoming a meme on social media sites like Twitter.
It's Morbin' Time
Many people will be surprised by this news, but it makes sense if you think about it. In a world where any exposure is good PR, Sony Pictures is hoping to profit from the growing interest in Morbius.
Despite the fact that the film's reemergence on the scene has been largely due to sarcastic fan devotion, the studio has recognised an opportunity and is seizing it. It's worth remembering that Morbius performed admirably at the box office, so Sony has another opportunity to at least recoup their investment.
This should not be interpreted by the studio as a request for a Morbius sequel. Despite the fact that the picture establishes a future for Jared Leto's Michael Morbius, few people are actually hoping for more from this part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
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The studio must recognise that these requests are not genuine, and that pursuing a Morbius sequel would be a mistake. But, after all, this is a business, and if Sony sees a way to cash in now that Morbius has become a meme, it wouldn't be shocking if they wanted to bring Leto's character back to the big screen.
Morbius is already available online and will be released in theatres on June 3rd.