‘Kraven,’ ‘Karate Kid’ and ‘Venom’ Get the Closeup at New York Comic Con

‘Kraven,’ ‘Karate Kid’ and ‘Venom’ Get the Closeup at New York Comic Con

As a long-time fan of the cinematic universe, I find myself deeply moved by the journey of these iconic characters and their talented creators. From the Karate Kid saga to Venom, it’s fascinating to see how these stories have evolved over the years.


At this year’s New York Comic Con, Sony showcased sneak peeks of three forthcoming titles – “Venom: The Final Dance“, “The Karate Kid: Tales of Greatness“, and “Kraven the Hunter” – during a one-hour presentation.

On Friday evening, an engaging panel took place, with actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, J.C. Chandor (director), Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and director Kelly Marcel in attendance. Previews of the opening scene from “Kraven”, a sneak peek at “Karate Kid: Legends”, a segment on how “Venom” controls a horse in “The Last Dance”, and a discussion about it were all part of this event.

Chandor initiated the presentation by hinting that “it’s reminiscent of an old gangster movie, essentially following a classic style of narrative, yet infused with a touch of the Marvel universe. This isn’t a light-hearted Craven production. It requires a raw approach, something akin to Kraven’s ruthlessness.

Speaking about the December 13th announcement, he commented: “Kraven isn’t the only one we’re exploring; we’ve had a fantastic chance to delve into the Marvel characters in an exciting fashion. Our goal is to capture the essence of these characters that fans love, yet present them in a fresh, innovative manner… We’ve managed to maintain a balance in tone that, as a storyteller and director, I feel deeply connected to this narrative, ensuring it feels authentic, and we’re not overstepping the bounds of reality.

As a passionate gamer diving into these comics, I can’t help but feel the itch for something more mature. When the studio presented us with the chance to create an R-rated film, we leaped at it! It was like getting the keys to a high-performance car – it opened up a world of gritty action scenes and deep character development that we couldn’t wait to explore.

When selecting Taylor-Johnson for the role, the director acknowledged it was quite a task. “Finding an actor capable of matching up with many other performers in the film, delivering strong performances, yet also moving with a raw, animalistic grace – similar to a dance – proved to be quite the hurdle,” he stated. “He was perfectly suited for the part of Kraven.

Following his entrance met with thunderous applause, Johnson addressed Kraven’s “iconic persona,” focusing on his physicality. He expressed that playing a villain offers a richer experience due to its depth and complexity. “He’s not just any character; he’s a man who has chosen to be a hunter, a killer. There are multiple dimensions to this role,” he remarked. “Kraven is a hunter, not a poacher. Every skilled hunter understands the necessity of controlling populations to maintain balance. When you apply that concept to humanity, it creates a chilling narrative.

In the sneak peeks, we got a glimpse of the movie’s start where Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character Kraven is transferred to a penal colony. Upon arrival, he receives a lively greeting from other inmates who tap on their cages above him, before introducing himself to his cellmate who mentions that the previous occupant was there for only a month, with Kraven assuring he won’t last long. He quickly makes several new adversaries and has a confrontation with the leader of one of the colony’s gangs, who subsequently traps him inside. This leads to an action-packed fight scene where Kraven brutally dispatches everyone in the room, escalating the conflict to the corridors outside where he finally manages to break free from the prison. He then scales the walls and escapes into a snowstorm, disappearing into a vast expanse of white.

In the wilderness, I found myself inside a forest hideout, gearing up for an ambush against a group of armed men who were ruthlessly targeting the local wildlife. My arsenal was ready, and I set a bear trap to catch one of them unawares. To add a lethal touch, I rigged a log with sharp spikes, which I swung down as my unsuspecting quarry approached. However, it wasn’t long before a helicopter started circling overhead, forcing me to flee.

The upcoming movie titled “The Karate Kid” is set to be released next, with a trailer that introduces Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. Ben Wang plays the main character in most of the footage shown, which hints at the film’s emphasis on family values, combat sequences, and stunts. Jackie Chan asks, “In life, you only have one question: Is it worth fighting for it? Or not?” The movie will hit theaters on May 28, 2025, and brings together Chan, who starred in the 2010 Karate Kid film, with Macchio from the original series, as well as the popular Netflix show “Cobra Kai.

Enthusiasts of the movie “Venom” were given a glimpse of the third film in the series starring Tom Hardy, as new footage was unveiled. This installment seems to mark the end of the symbiotic relationship’s journey, hinted at in the previously released trailer. During the presentation, Hardy shared his feelings about portraying Eddie for more than five years. He expressed, to the audience, that playing this character has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in his life, and it will be sad when it comes to an end.

In addition to discussing various aspects of their collaboration, Hardy also shed light on his partnership with director Marcel during the filmmaking process. They often brainstorm ideas that they refine collectively, before Marcel hinted at the direction the upcoming film would take. “We encounter him exactly where we left him at the end of Venom 2,” she hinted about the movie, which premieres next week. “Now they’re on the run as fugitives.” The Last Dance is essentially a road trip movie, with them being pursued not just by people from our world but also by entities from other worlds. As their journey continues, they begin to understand that their unity poses a threat to the world’s safety.

Besides playfully portraying their roles, Ejiofor mentioned that his character is a military personnel, strict and candid in handling these creatures while maintaining order within the facility. Meanwhile, Temple’s character, who collaborates with him on this project but doesn’t always share the same perspective, works on the scientific aspects of the operation.

During the discussion, Hardy revealed that filming his scenes with Venom’s presence required numerous ear pieces playing both his Venom voice and Marcel’s instructions. He mentioned this collaboration between them, on and off camera, even extended to the scriptwriting of the movie, a point he highlighted during the 20-minute talk.

Hardy shares his brilliant thoughts. He then discusses them extensively with Kelly until she tells him to stop. At this point, he feels satisfied knowing she understands. Later, Kelly returns with suggestions that not only align with his original ideas but also add unexpected yet fitting twists. Impressed, Hardy congratulates himself… With Kelly, his concepts evolve into something entirely new.

“That’s about how it goes. There’s some drawings involved as well,” Marcel added. 

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with the incredibly talented Kelly. From our early days striving for our first breaks in the industry, it’s been an amazing journey watching her transform from a fellow writer to a visionary director. I am beyond proud and excited about the incredible growth she’s achieved, and I wholeheartedly support her every step of the way.

She expressed that these films hold immense significance for her since she’s been with Tom for seven years on this journey. In other words, they mean everything to them both. She felt incredibly thankful to Sony for allowing her the opportunity to direct this film from conception to completion, particularly given its status as the final installment of the trilogy. It was a truly wonderful experience, and she hopes it paves the way for more female directors to take on male-led action movies in the future.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the actors and production crew were queried about the possibility of a Spider-Man collaboration. Marcel replied, “I’d be thrilled to see Venom team up with Spider-Man, but it’s hard to predict.

From my perspective as a devoted fan, I can confirm that the Venom saga is wrapping up according to what Tom Hardy and Ruben Fleischer have revealed. They’ve always envisioned this story for Eddie Brock (Venom) across three films, and they’ve now reached the conclusion of Eddie and Venom’s arc in this installment. However, since there are numerous symbiote tales within the canon, there could be plenty more adventures ahead, and perhaps a few hints or Easter eggs in this movie that set the stage for these future journeys.

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2024-10-19 03:55