Sony had the crowd buzzing at this year’s New York Comic Con with an electrifying panel, showing off some of its biggest upcoming projects — “Kraven the Hunter,” “Karate Kid: Legends,” and “Venom: The Last Dance.” It was a packed hour full of star power, including Tom Hardy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Juno Temple, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, all joining the stage alongside directors J.C. Chandor and Kelly Marcel.
First up was Kraven the Hunter. Director J.C. Chandor set the stage, describing the movie as an old-school gangster flick but with a Marvel twist. “This isn’t a lighthearted Kraven,” he warned. “We’ve gone full brutal.” He explained that they took the R-rating to heart, diving deep into the intensity of Kraven’s character, making the most of the mature rating to add gritty, grindhouse vibes to the Marvel universe.
Casting Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven was no easy task, Chandor admitted. “We needed someone who could match up not just performance-wise but physically, too — someone who could move like an animal.” He called Taylor-Johnson the perfect fit, and when the actor stepped on stage, the audience roared in approval. Johnson talked about the depth of Kraven’s character, emphasizing that unlike other Marvel villains, Kraven isn’t an alien or a monster; he’s a man with a mission. “Kraven’s a hunter, not a poacher,” he said, describing how the character’s philosophy turns dark when applied to human beings.
Sony then treated the audience to some exclusive footage. The opening scene showcased Kraven being taken to a prison colony, where he quickly becomes the target of hostile inmates before breaking out in a brutal and thrilling sequence. Another clip showed him preparing for a hunt in the forest, taking down armed men with traps and raw intensity, proving that this Kraven doesn’t play around.
Next on the lineup was Karate Kid: Legends, with a trailer introduced by none other than Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. The trailer highlighted star Ben Wang and focused on the film’s themes of family, fighting, and intense stunt choreography. Chan’s voiceover set the tone: “In life, you have to decide — is it worth fighting for or not?” The movie, set to release on May 28, 2025, brings together the stars of both the 2010 reboot and the original series, promising a blend of old-school and new-school martial arts action.
Finally, it was time for Venom: The Last Dance. Tom Hardy, who has become synonymous with Eddie Brock, reflected on his journey with the character, sharing how much he’s loved playing Venom for over half a decade. “It’s been one of the best experiences of my life, so it’s going to be sad to say goodbye,” he admitted. Hardy and director Kelly Marcel have a unique dynamic, bouncing ideas off each other constantly. Marcel, who is directing for the first time after co-writing the previous films, teased the plot, hinting at a road trip story where Venom and Eddie are fugitives, on the run from both human and otherworldly threats.
Fans also got a glimpse of Ejiofor and Temple’s characters. Ejiofor plays a strict military leader, tasked with managing a facility dealing with the symbiotes, while Temple’s character, a scientist, has a complicated relationship with him. Hardy even gave insight into how they filmed his scenes with Venom, explaining the tech behind how he performed with Venom’s voice in his earpiece.
During the discussion, Hardy joked about his creative process with Marcel. “I come up with these wild ideas, and then I talk at Kelly until she says, ‘Enough.’ She takes my chaos and turns it into something amazing.” Marcel laughed, adding that their process often includes drawings and brainstorming. She expressed gratitude for the chance to direct, highlighting how meaningful it was to guide the final chapter of the trilogy and pave the way for more female directors in male-led action films.
As the panel wrapped up, fans were eager to know if a crossover with Spider-Man might be in the cards. Marcel expressed her excitement for the possibility, though she didn’t confirm anything. However, she and Hardy did confirm that The Last Dance will be the conclusion to Venom’s arc. “We always envisioned it as a trilogy,” Marcel said. “But the symbiote lore is vast, and there might be Easter eggs in this movie hinting at where the story could go next.”
It was a night of thrills and excitement for Sony fans, setting the stage for some epic cinematic experiences in the coming months.