‘Kraven the Hunter’ Moves to December Release as Sony Pushes ‘Karate Kid’ to May 2025

Sony’s “Kraven the Hunter” is being pushed back from its August release, moving to Dec. 13, 2024. It will screen in IMAX and premium large formats.

The film takes over “Karate Kid’s” original release date, which has been changed to May 30, 2025. It will now bow in theaters after the sixth and final season of “Cobra Kai” debuts on Netflix.

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With a coveted Christmastime release date open, Sony is positioning “Kraven” as an R-rated option for the end of the year.

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, “Kraven the Hunter” unpacks the origin story behind the Marvel villain, set before his notorious vendetta against Spider-Man. Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott and Russell Crowe also star.

The film is directed by J.C. Chandor, with a story by Richard Wenk and screenplay by Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. It’s produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and David Householter.

Sony has also added “They Listen” from Columbia Pictures and Blumhouse to the release calendar, slotting it in “Kraven’s” original date of Aug. 30, 2024. The film stars John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu and Lukita Maxwell, with David Dastmalchian and Keith Carradine. It is written and directed by Chris Weitz and produced by Jason Blum, Chris Weitz and Andrew Miano. Executive producers are Beatriz Sequeira, Paul O. Davis, Dan Balgoyen and Britta Rowings.

Sony’s “Karate Kid” will star Ben Wang in the titular role, alongside Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff and returning franchise actors Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the screenplay is written by Rob Lieber with Karen Rosenfelt as producer.

Legendary Entertainment’s “Animal Friends” has also been slotted for Aug. 15, 2025. The film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Lil Rel Howery, Addison Rae and Ellie Bamber, will combine live-action and animated characters from writing duo Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider. Emmy-winning director Peter Atencio directs the R-rated road trip adventure. Producing alongside Legendary are Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and producer Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios.

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