Updated on June 23, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EST:
Bad Bunny was set to make his debut in Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man Universe next year as El Muerto — but now, it seems like Benito's introduction to the MCU is on an indefinite hold.
On June 21, Deadline reported that Sony Pictures announced its removal of El Muerto from its release schedule. As of October 2022, the film — which had Jonas Cuarón attached to direct, Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer on board to write, and Bad Bunny set to star as the titular hero, Marvel's very first live-action Latino hero — was in “early development.” Per Deadline, the film is still in development, but has stalled due to the ongoing WGA strike and Benito's two back-to-back tours in 2022.
While speaking to Time in March, Bad Bunny revealed that no filming had taken place for the superhero flick. Time added that the rapper's publicist shared the film was “at a standstill” but “in development," while Benito joked: “Maybe they’ll switch me out for Pedro Pascal.”
Bad Bunny previously told Billboard that 2023 — with the exception of his Coachella headlining spot earlier this year — would be his year of relaxation. "2023 is for me, for my physical health, my emotional health to breathe,” he said at the end of last year. “We’re going to celebrate. Let’s go here, let’s go there, let’s go on the boat. I have a couple of sporadic commitments, and I’ll go to the studio, but there’s no pressure. Remember yourself, cabrón. You’ve worked your ass off.”
In the meantime, El Muerto might still have a theatrical future, and could possibly still be released in 2024 or 2025, but an exact release date is no longer confirmed. According to Deadline, the Caleb McLaughlin and Lakeith Stanfield epic The Book of Clarence has been moved to El Muerto's previous January 12, 2024 slot.
El Conejo Malo could still be El Muerto — let's not give up hope just yet.
Original story follows.
Previously (April 26, 2022):
Bad Bunny hive, it’s time to rejoice because thee Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has officially become Marvel’s next superhero.
As reported by Variety, Bad Bunny has been tapped to star in an upcoming Spider-Man spin-off from Sony Pictures. The film is called El Muerto, meaning “The Dead One” in English, and is slated to be released on January 12, 2024 . Benito will take on the leading titular role for the film, as superpowered wrestler El Muerto.
News of Benito’s casting was unveiled by Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Motion Pictures Group, on April 25 during Sony's panel at CinemaCon, an event taking place in Las Vegas until April 28. Per Variety and as noted by Panitch during the event, Bad Bunny will become “the first-ever Latino actor to headline a live-action Marvel movie” with the role.
According to Marvel’s official website, El Muerto is Juan Carlos Estrada Sanchez, a Mexican wrestler whose superpowers have been passed down by generations in the form of a mask. As a rite of passage, wrestlers in Juan Carlos’s family have to face off their arch-nemesis El Dorado, meaning “The Golden One,” to prove they are courageous and worthy enough to yield the mask’s powers.
However, when his time comes, El Muerto is unable to fight El Dorado, and his father sacrifices his life for him. To honor his father, El Dorado gives El Muerto a deal: he gets ten years to become brave. To prove he has kept his word, El Dorado challenges El Muerto to duel a masked wrestler and unmask them during their fight after the ten years have passed.
TL;DR, that masked wrestler just so happens to be Spider-Man, who after a couple of twists and turns, then helps El Muerto in his quest to defeat El Dorado.
As noted by Variety, Benito’s version of El Muerto in the upcoming movie will be that of the “antihero on the verge of inheriting his father’s power.”
Fans of Benito would know this isn’t the star’s first acting gig. Previously, he’s had parts on critically-acclaimed and popular projects such as Netflix’s Narcos: México and Fast & Furious 9. He is also one of the stars of David Leitch’s upcoming action-comedy Bullet Train — out July 29, 2022 — alongside the likes of Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, and Joey King.
Long-time fans would also know this isn’t his first encounter with the wrestling world either, as he's previously appeared on WWE’s Wrestlemania.
“This opportunity to bring El Muerto to life [is] amazing, it’s incredible,” Bad Bunny said during CinemaCon, per Deadline. “I love wrestling. I grew up watching wrestling and I’m a wrestler. I’m a former champion so this is why I love this character. I think it’s the perfect role [for] me and it will be epic.”
