Marvel’s living vampire is out for blood this weekend.
Morbius–the much-hyped Marvel feature that departs from super-hero fare and enters the realm of horror–held previews last night (Thursday, March 31) and raked in $5.7 million from nearly 3,600 theaters, according to a report on Deadline. The film officially opens today, April 1.
Heading into its crucial opening weekend, the Sony Pictures film–which has been saddled with less-than-glowing reviews–is expected to earn between $40 million and $50 million for the period, according to industry estimates.
Morbius–directed by Daniel Espinosa from a screenplay by Matt Sazama, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and Burk Sharpless–stars Oscar winner Jared Leto in the titular role, Matt Smith as Milo, Adria Arjona as Martine Bancroft, Jared Harris as Dr. Nicholas, Al Madrigal as Alberto Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson as Simon Stroud (with a special appearance by Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture).
The movie follows the trials of Dr. Michael Morbius–who suffers from a rare blood disorder–as he “attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil–or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?”
The Marvel Comics Morbius character–created by writer/editor Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane–debuted as a villain in The Amazing Spider–Man No. 101 in 1971, and later headlined the black-and-white Vampire Tales from 1973-1975.
Keep reading Horror News Network to learn the box office results for Morbius.
