Why Jared Harris Joined Morbius: The Mortgage Truth

Jared Harris is realistic about the quality of Morbius, the Spider-Man spinoff he took on mainly for financial reasons. In a recent interview, the Mad Men and Chernobyl actor noted, “I have a mortgage to pay. Sometimes you agree to projects because you need the money.”

He also shared insights on the superhero genre, emphasizing that films in this category tend to thrive when they include humor. He stated, “You can’t treat it like Shakespeare. The movie could have benefitted from a more playful approach.”

Released in 2022, Morbius stars Harris as Dr. Emil Nicholas, who guides the vampiric antihero Dr. Michael Morbius, portrayed by Jared Leto, along with his rival Milo (Matt Smith). The film faced harsh criticism, earning only $167 million worldwide against a $75 million budget, and received a lackluster C+ CinemaScore.

This film marked the third chapter in Sony's growing Spider-Man universe, which has yet to include Spider-Man himself. This franchise began with Venom in 2018 and continued with its sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage. This year, the universe is set to grow further with three new titles: the poorly received Madame Web, the anticipated Venom: The Last Dance, and the first R-rated installment, Kraven the Hunter.

Unlike actors from Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, who rarely voice criticism, performers in Sony's superhero films often speak more candidly about their experiences. After the release of Madame Web, actress Dakota Johnson commented that the film’s negative feedback was understandable. She recognized the challenge of being part of a project that doesn’t connect well with audiences, noting that productions can change drastically during filming. “In this industry, you can sign onto something, and it evolves into something completely different,” she explained.

Other cast members acknowledged the film's failure to resonate. Sydney Sweeney mentioned that she joined as a “building block” to build a relationship with Sony, saying, “You accept whatever happens and just go along for the ride.” Emma Roberts expressed her enjoyment of the movie and blamed online culture for its reception, arguing that the internet often trivializes films.

Daniel Espinosa, the director of Morbius, admitted to feeling critical of his own work while also expressing pride in certain elements. Meanwhile, Matt Smith accepted the film’s poor reception with grace, stating, “It got thrown under the bus, but you just have to accept it. Sometimes things don’t pan out, and that’s just how it is.”