New Morbius trailer confuses everyone by referencing all three versions of Spider-Man and Venom

Update: Following a brief teaser, the new Morbius trailer has arrived in full – not only does the new footage feature various references to the wider Spider-Man universe, but also a direct name-check of Venom.

We witness Doctor Michael Morbius dealing with a rare blood disease, and then being surrounded by bats and transforming into a super-strong, blood-thirsty vampire. While Morbius wants to use his powers for good, the monster inside wants to feed. Watch the new Morbius trailer above.

Original: A trailer for the Morbius trailer has arrived, and Marvel fans around the world are asking, "What the hell's going on here?" 

Jared Leto's upcoming take on the vampiric anti-hero looks set to reference all three major live-action versions of Spider-Man. Watch the teaser below.

First off, thanks to a trailer released back in early 2020, we know that the movie will feature Michael Keaton's Vulture, who last appeared in Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Homecoming. That, in itself, was confusing enough, as the moment seemingly confirmed that the Morbius movie will take place in the MCU. Considering the Venom 2 post-credits scene, that now makes a fair amount of sense, as the Sony-verse and the Marvel Studios movies have collided.

Second, also in that first trailer, there was a picture of Spider-Man graffitied onto a wall – but not Holland's webslinger. Instead, Peter Parker was wearing the same suit seen in the Sam Raimi movies, which featured Tobey Maguire as the lead.

Now, the new trailer (for the trailer) features newspaper headlines referencing both Rhino and Black Cat, two villains who appeared in the Amazing Spider-Man 2, which had Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. And, just in case you thought those were new versions of those old characters, there's also an Oscorp building with the same Oscorp logo seen in Garfield's films. To add to the confusion, the newspaper has the same Daily Bugle logo that was seen in Venom 2...

One final hint at things to come: the trailer (for the trailer) sees Leto, speaking to the camera, saying: "There's a web of opportunity." 

The multiverse, it seems, has arrived, and Morbius is on a collision course with all three live-action versions of Spider-Man. Before Morbius arrives, we will hopefully get some answers in the long-awaited Spider-Man: No Way Home, which, if apparent leaks are to be believed, features more than one Spider-Man.

Morbius arrives on January 28. In the meantime, make sure you're up to date with all the new superhero movies heading our way.

Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

Read more
Venom in The Last Dance
Scrapped Kraven the Hunter concept art reveals Venom connection cut from the movie
Sony reportedly could have used Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in its Spider-Man Universe movies all along, but wanted to focus on the villains instead
The Prowler in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse release date, plot, cast, and everything we know so far
Spider-Man movies in order: Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man
How to watch the Spider-Man movies in order (release and chronological)
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse
Beyond the Spider-Verse star reveals he's yet to start recording his lines as "a lot of things" are still being figured out
Web of Spider-Verse: New Blood #1
Spider-Hulk, Spider-Prowler, Count Parker, and more are the latest Spider-Man variants as the Spider-Verse and Venomverse prepare to go to war
Latest in Superhero Movies
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry in Aquaman
Jason Momoa pitched being cast as Lobo as soon as James Gunn got his DC job in a text with "ten billion exclamation points": "It was always part of the plan"
Latest in News
Avowed
Avowed has a Skyrim Easter egg that pokes fun at the RPG's most memed about companion NPC
The two characters in Split Fiction holding their hands up in surrender in a futuristic city
Split Fiction director says he'd "really appreciate" winning GOTY again, but if GTA 6 comes out in 2025 "it's going to be really tough" and he's fine with that because he's "a huge fan"
Grand Theft Auto 3
A GTA streamer is trying to beat every single 3D entry without dying, and in 33 hours he's made it as far as San Andreas but keeps getting caught in Vice City purgatory
Monster Hunter Wilds Nu Udra Palico
Monster Hunter Wilds players are so obsessed with Palico armor that turns your cute cat into a freaky little octopus that even Capcom is sharing fan art of it
Charli XCX
Charlie XCX is in talks to star in Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia movie - and that is so Brat
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12
Gwen Stacy and Loki team-up for a cosmic adventure in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #12