The movie El Muerto is on its way to theatres. The new entry in Sony’s Spider-Man world, El Muerto, which hits theatres in January 2024, stars popstar and Latin music icon Bad Bunny (full name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio).
Sony has made an effort over the past few years to develop its own universe that is distinct from the well-known characters of the MCU. Sony is hard at work developing a wide range of characters to compete with and maybe partner up with its most cherished character, Spider-Man, beginning with Venom in 2018, its sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage in 2021, and the newly released Morbius. The Sony Spider-Man universe is currently in full gear with further movies, like as Kraven the Hunter and Madame Web, on the horizon.
Venom and Morbius may not have the star power of other Marvel characters, but having Tom Hardy and Jared Leto play the key parts helped turn them from well-known comic book characters into popular movie stars. This is why the news of the El Muerto movie is so intriguing. This will be the first Marvel-based movie to have a Spanish-speaking hero, thus Sony pictures may be taking a chance by choosing the Latin music icon over an established actor.
Who is El Muerto?
A minor Spider-Man character named El Muerto made his debut in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6 in 2006. His full name is Juan Carlos Estrada Sanchez, and El Muerto, a nickname that has been passed down down the generations from father to son, means “the dead.” But the power and incredible strength that come from the magical mask are also passed down, not just the name.
El Muerto is a member of a long line of Latino professional wrestlers known as Luchadors that compete in the Lucha libra style of wrestling, which has long been a significant component of Mexican popular culture.
From Violent Origins
A young Sanchez believed that his fate was already determined. He was raised in the martial arts and was taught from birth by his father to one day assume the role of El Muerto. Juan Sanchez must combat a mystery character dubbed El Dorado to earn the right to wear his father’s mask when the time comes for the younger Sanchez to finally do so.
He is compelled to defend himself by his father since he is too afraid to engage in combat. This results in his father’s head being severed from his body by El Dorado, which is the most terrible event of his life. Juan, who is holding his father’s mask, is given a chance by El Dorado that would change his life. Juan is given 10 years to explore the world and find his courage by the villain, who admires his father’s bravery. He must battle and defeat another disguised adversary after these 10 years are up in order to reveal him (a significant insult in the world of Mexican wrestling). Juan’s life will be taken by El Dorado if you don’t comply.
El Muerto and Spider-Man
El Muerto teams up with him to defeat Spider-Man after protecting J.Jonah Jameson and his son from a vicious home invasion. Jameson sets up a charity wrestling match between Spider-Man and El Muerto. El Muerto eventually defeats him and makes an attempt to kill him by taking off his mask and revealing Spider-real Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the public as they duel back and forth.
Parker’s iron spider suit takes control as he struggles to escape El Muerto’s grasp, and he unintentionally stabs him with a poisonous arrow that paralyses him. As a result, El Dorado arrives to the hospital to collect the mask and the Mexican anti-life hero’s after ten years. Spider-Man, who is overcome with guilt, travels to the hospital where he is met by El Dorado, who is prepared to execute the still-paralyzed El Muerto. Ultimately, Spider-Man and El Muerto work together to defeat El Dorado as a threat, forging an iffy alliance between the two formerly antagonistic characters.
From Comics to Film
When you consider the narrowness of the plot, Sony’s choice to bring this relatively small character to the big screen may seem odd. The decision makes sense, though, because of this. Hardcore fans won’t be examining and dissecting El Muerto’s extensive comic history. He almost serves as Sony’s canvas to paint a vivid and captivating tale centred on a Latino character.
Despite not having a polished acting style, Bad Bunny brings a lifelong passion for wrestling and practical knowledge in the business of sports entertainment after competing at WrestleMania in 2021. El Muerto offers the Sony Spider-verse a wealth of opportunity to tackle larger issues like the intricacies of the father/son connection, the immigrant experience in America, and the historical importance of Lucha Libra wrestling in Mexican culture.
