Tom Hardy stars in the brand-new superhero blockbuster Venom. The Oscar-nominated star takes on the Marvel character in Sony’s latest superhero film, which is directed by Ruben Fleischer. Venom also stars Woody Harrelson, Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate and Scott Haze.
In the movie, Hardy plays a down-on-his-luck journalist named Eddie Brock who undergoes a horrifying metamorphosis into an alien called a ‘symbiote’ that gives him superpowers.
Tom was at the recent 2018 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California to talk about the movie, why he took on the role plus how he rates Venom as the coolest Marvel superhero.
Tom also gave his reaction as to whether he would go face-to-face with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man…
“I wanted to do something my son could watch”
So Tom, what is it about Venom and Eddie Brock that made you decide to take on this character?
Tom Hardy: Venom is by far like, for me – I don’t want to upset anyone – but I think he’s the coolest Marvel superhero there is. I just like the way he looks, first and foremost. Also, my son is a massive Venom fan, and he was a very strong influence on me as to why I ought to play Venom, specifically. So I really wanted to do something that my son could watch. Because a lot of the films that I’ve done are normally pretty aggressive or violent or I swear a lot…so I did something where I bite people’s heads off instead! [Laughs]. So for the best of intentions I got involved in Venom for the material and the opportunity.
How did you approach bringing Venom to life?
TH: Well, it was fairly standard operating procedure. I read the script, I fell in love with the character and it’s a double act, so there are two characters that I’m playing. And I’m a bit of a geek about acting so I wanted to play…I did a film called Legend where I played two brothers and I thought I could do a similar technique but this time I get to play with a huge visual effects monster with an abundance of money to spend on it [Laughs]. And see how far I could push that.
I’ve got to give a lot of props to the sound boys; I would record Venom up first before I did a scene with Venom or other actors who had to work in a scene with Eddie Brock and Venom together, but they couldn’t necessarily hear Venom but I could. And the sound boys would listen to my cues and the other actor’s cues and have to play or interrupt other actors with the right lines at the right time. So the sound boys actually technically played Venom, if that makes sense, and then Mr Franklin created Venom and I just kind of played Eddie Brock.
“I think Venom is the coolest Marvel superhero there is. I just like the way he looks, first and foremost”
So you were able to give those instantaneous reactions because you’re hearing the other voice in your head?
TH: Yeah, so I wear an earpiece. I would record like… it depends, if I’m Eddie Brock and Venom is talking to me then it’s just me that hears it. But the other actors don’t know when they can speak, so it’s kind of a technical piece. It’s really a geeky kind of answer but it’s a very slow and methodical recording experience.
It’s like a technical dance?
TH: Completely. Yeah.
So tell us a little bit about Eddie Brock as a character?
TH: Yeah, to be fair, we stay pretty close to the Lethal Protector [comic book]. But Eddie Brock, he’s an investigative journalist that has a documentary show that is on in our world. And he falls on hard times, which is kind of similar to how he did in the comics, and out of favour with his partner, not his wife yet, as it were. And he’s a bit of a loser in some aspects. But he’s the kind of guy that… he’s an anti-hero, so he’ll figure on a goal and he’ll do whatever he has to do to get to that goal, even if it means going round the outside and doing some naughty or bad things to get there.
He works in the grey areas, kind of?
TH: Yeah, he’s grey, his ethical structure is really off. He’s got no scruples. His moral code is questionable. But he’s got a big heart and he believes in doing the right thing, even if he goes around the outside to get it done. And it causes collateral and it causes damage. So in that aspect, he means well, he’s got a true and noble heart… I’m going on and on and on [Laughs]. But this is what’s wonderful about the fact that he then finds – and I don’t want to give away spoilers – but he kind of finds his perfect opposite partner in this huge great alien beast that arrives and lives rent-free in his body – and no one will believe him, that it’s there.
“He kind of finds his perfect opposite partner in this huge great alien beast that arrives and lives rent-free in his body – and no one will believe him, that it’s there.”
What was it like working with Michelle Williams, who plays Eddie’s ex-girlfriend?
TH: Michelle is awesome. I wish she was here now actually, she would love this. She’s a brilliant actress, like through-and-through. There’s nothing that she cannot do, she’s brilliant. And working with her, she’s a consummate pro, she’s super super patient with me talking to myself [Laughs] all the time, trying to figure things out. She’s a problem solver, she’s an awesome actress so working with her is a delight. And I’m looking forward to doing more… oh, I can’t tell you! [Laughs] I was going to say something but it’s a spoiler. But she’s really good in this movie.
Spider-Man Tom Holland said recently that out of all the characters in the Marvel universe he would most like to face-off with, it is Venom. How do you feel about that?
TH: Who, me?
Yeah, are you ready to go face-to-face?
TH: Or toe-to-toe with Tom Holland [Laughs]. I’ll have a go, yeah. You’ve got to have a go ain’t you? [Laughs] Yeah no, he’s an awesome actor and I love Spider-Man but, you know, who knows? It would be good fun. I would love to.
“He’s got a big heart and he believes in doing the right thing, even if he goes around the outside to get it done. And it causes collateral and it causes damage.”
INTERVIEW: LUCY ALLEN / HOTFEATURES
PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY
