The Doctor Is in: 10 Actors Who Could Play Morbius in the Upcoming Sony Film

It seems that Sony is creating their own film universe with all of the Spider-Man villains they still own, including Morbius, the Living Vampire. While he's an obscure villain, Sony apparently thinks he's well-known enough to give him his own feature film, and let him join the likes of Venom and Kraven the Hunter in what I would assume to be a connected universe. Even though very few people know who this character is, the right actor is still required for the role, and I have a few ideas on who could don the fangs of Morbius.

1. Cillian Murphy

Probably best known for playing the Batman villain Scarecrow, Cillian Murphy is excellent at playing smart and sinister characters. Morbius is a scientist in his backstory, being what lead to him becoming a "vampire," and that requires someone who is charismatic enough to play a man with a doctorate. Murphy has the skinny frame and prominent cheekbones that are synonymous with the character, and could add another excellent villain to his resume.

2. Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey might not be who comes to mind when you think of a scientist, but he certainly has the look for the character. Being practically nothing but skin and bones, McConaughey could personify the undead Morbius perfectly, and could attract a lot of fans to the project. He's a huge star that could make waves if he were to be cast in the part, and could make a truly excellent Morbius after the transformation.

3. Edward Norton

I would cast Edward Norton in this role because of his tall and lanky stature, but I can't help but to think that he would make a superb scientist as well. Norton is one of the most sophisticated and dedicated actors on the planet, and I have no doubts that he would delve into the role head first. Using his signature form of method acting, I wouldn't be surprised if we all thought him to be a vampire after this movie, and he could really bring some star power to the project.

4. Wes Bentley

He might not be best known as a movie star anymore, but chances are you've seen Wes Bentley in something. Perhaps something he would rather everyone forget is his previous Marvel role as Blackheart in Ghost Rider, but that particular performance is why I could see him playing Morbius, the Living Vampire. Not only was he a sinister villain, but he has a pale complexion somewhat reminiscent of Morbius, and the way his face, particularly his cheek bones, popped out was astounding to me. He really could look like Morbius with the right make-up, and although unlikely, this could be his supervillain redemption story.

5. Ethan Hawke

I'll be honest with you, I'm not a fan of Ethan Hawke. However, despite my personal opinion of his work and acting style, I can't help but to think that he was built for this role. He has the look for the character down to a tee, and although I usually wouldn't be first in line to see one of his movies, I do think that Hawke could give a worthwhile performance in this role.

6. Rami Malek

At this point, there's no way you don't know who Rami Malek is. He broke into the mainstream with his wildly successful show Mr. Robot, and just scored the role of a lifetime as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. With that being said, it seems like the last thing for him to accomplish is to play a superhero (or villain). Malek has a facial structure that resembles Morbius a good bit, and with a popular, breakout star at the helm of this film, the sky's the limit for the would-be spin-off.

7. Norman Reedus

It may be a little farfetched to suggest that Norman Reedus should be the star of a feature film given his schedule, but he would be a good fit for the role. Just look at the hair, the beard, the face—it all screams Morbius to me. I'm not confident that Reedus of all people would be a convincing scientist, but he could excell as a bloodthirsty vampire, and he's a fan favorite actor that a lot of people would love to see in this movie.

8. Matt Smith

Chances are you know Matt Smith for playing the iconic role of Doctor Who, but don't let that eccentric and happy-go-lucky performance fool you, this man has range. Smith just recently scored the role of Charles Manson in the upcoming indie film Charlie Says, which leads me to believe that he can pull off playing the darkest of dark roles. Not to mention that he would have to grow his hair out for that particular role, meaning that he would look even more like Morbius, and could have the mindset to be truly savage in the role.

9. Adam Driver

Adam Driver is obviously one of the new stars of the Star Wars films, being the sole villain of the new installments. We all know that Driver can play a menacing character, but just look at him. He's tall and skinny (despite the Ben Swolo meme, the man is skinny), has the cheekbones and facial hair synonymous with the character, and a glorious mane could really be the final nail in the coffin to get him the role of the undead Morbius.

10. James Frain

You may not know who James Frain is, but he may have the most credentials for the role. This man has played a villain in just about everything, including Franklin Mott in True Blood, proving that he can make an exemplary vampire. Frain has the potential to look the most like the character given the proper hair and make-up, and while he's not as big of a star as everyone else on this list, I believe he could make up for that with his performance.

What do you think? Who should play Morbius, the Living Vampire?