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Dmitri born as the illegitimate son of notorious Russian gangster Nikolai Kravinoff and a woman named Sonya Smerdyakova; his mother apparently died giving birth to him. Dimitri was raised by Nikolai and his wife Anna Kravinoff, whom Dimitri loved as if she was his mother, and his older half-brother Sergei Kravinoff.
Dimitri grows up in London, however his life wasn't particularly good: although his older brother loved him dearly and his father always defended him, Nikolai never respected Dmitri much, considering him weak, while grooming his favorite son, Sergei, to become his successor and lead his criminal empire one day.
His stepmother eventually contracted a mental illness, prompting Nikolai to have her committed to a psychiatric hospital and send Dimitri and Sergei to the United States to continue their studies. During this time, Dimitri began to develop his talent as a master of disguise by learning to imitate voices, although he did so primarily to amuse his brother.
Kidnapping[]
Over the next sixteen years, Sergei would visit Dimitri on his birthday but would remain isolated in the wildness while Dimitri grew up to become a piano player at his father's club, his voice mimicry skills improving until he could mimic famous singers. During one night however an assassination attempt on his father occurred while Dimitri cowered, leading Nikolai to express his anger and disappointment with his son. Soon after his brother surprised him again for his birthday, the two going out at their father's club where Dimitri expresses his anger with himself over his weakness. Their father makes a surprise appearance where he talks to his sons about the three of them one day moving forward together as a family, and after Sergei returns him to his flat where he passes out.
While Sergei is out however, Dimitri is kidnapped by men working for Aleksei Sytsevich, who was now a crime boss seeking to take over Nikolai's territory. Dimitri is tortured and has his ring finger cut off, before Sytsevich reveals the true reason behind his kidnapping: Sergei was actually the Hunter, an urban legend believed to be responsible for the deaths of many criminals and who Sytsevich was now after him. He also reveals that he was underestimated due to his health problems, much like Dimitri, and that thanks to a scientist named Miles Warren he was cured of his illness and given superhuman abilities, at the cost of needing medication to keep his mutation at bay. He offers Dimitri the opportunity to take over Nikolai's business as his partner, but Dimitri refuses.
Before Sytsevich can go through with killing Dimitri, the Foreigner arrives and reveals his own desire to see Kraven killed, having tracked him to Siberia. Using Dimitri as bait, Sytsevich and the Foreigner attempt to kill Sergei and almost succeed, but his brother ultimately succeeds in killing both of them with help from Calypso. Shortly after this Nikolai is killed in what appears to be a hunting accident though Dimitri quickly realizes that it was Sergei's work and, despite Sergei handing over control of their father's assets so he can dismantle it, decides to take over the business. He also tracks down Dr. Warren and convinces him to give him a similar procedure, which gives him shape shifting abilities so that he can look like anyone.
A year after his kidnapping, Dimitri is visited again on his birthday by his brother and reveals how he has taken over their father's empire. He dismisses and criticizes Sergei's insistence that he has any moral superiority over their father, claiming they are exactly alike, and after revealing his own abilities, the two part ways.
Escaping Prison[]
Now known as Chameleon, Kravinoff was arrested for his crimes. The Daily Bugle later reported on his mysterious escape.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Shapeshifting: After Dmitri's procedure with Miles Warren, he gained the ability to change his appearance to look like anyone he desires, which he demonstrated in order to intimidate Kraven with his own reflection. During his transformation process, his head gains a white, featureless, mannequin-like appearance with a line going down the center of his head.
Abilities[]
Vocal Mimicry: Even before his procedure to obtain shape-shifting abilities, Dmitri demonstrated an ability to impersonate anyone's voice, mostly his father's. He has used this ability to mimic the voices of different singers and his enemies which caused one of the Rhino's henchmen to violently lash out.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
“
That was, um... hell what I went through. But it also freed me. I... I feel almost born again.
„
~ Dmitri to Sergei.
“
I found a doctor in New York. A little unorthodox, I must admit. But he really helped me. I mean...changed me.
„
~ Dmitri to Sergei.
“
You're not better than him. You're worse. How did Papa die again? A hunting accident, was it? Don't lie to me. You think you have some kind of honor, huh? Some kind of code? Bullsh-t. You're just another man hunting for a trophy.
„
~ Dmitri calls Sergei a hypocrite and walks away.
“
You should see the look on your face.
„
~ Dmitri reveals to Kraven he can shapeshift into his likeness.
“
Chameleon: You want me to be weak, so that you can be strong. But I'm strong now. I can be whoever I want to be. The Rhino is gone. Dad is gone. It's all just there for the taking. I'm gonna take it. Kraven: You know I can't let you do that. Chameleon: Go home, Kraven. Dad left you something.
„
~ Dimitri and Sergei's last words to each other before they say goodbye.
Trivia[]
The Chameleon of Kraven the Hunter marks the Chameleon's first live-action appearance in a Spider-Man film. Dmitri Smerdyakov previously appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Far From Home, but he never turned into the Chameleon nor was he a villain in that film.
Kodi Smit-McPhee was originally offered the role of the Chameleon, but declined it due to a scheduling conflict.
Fred Hechinger starred in Gladiator II and Kraven the Hunter, both of which came out in 2024. Ironically, Hechinger's on screen father, Russell Crowe starred as the main character in the first Gladiator film.
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Universe Villains