Sony Showcases ‘Kraven,’ ‘Karate Kid,’ and ‘Venom’ at New York Comic Con.

 

Sony’s panel at New York Comic Con 2024 delivered an exciting showcase of three upcoming films: Kraven the Hunter, Karate Kid: Legends, and Venom: The Last Dance. The hour-long presentation featured big names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and directors J.C. Chandor and Kelly Marcel. It offered fans an exclusive look at footage from all three films, while the stars and creators shared insights into their respective projects, generating plenty of buzz for Sony’s upcoming slate.

Kraven the Hunter: A Brutal, Animalistic Journey

The panel kicked off with Kraven the Hunter, led by director J.C. Chandor and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays the titular character. Chandor described Kraven as having a gritty, old-school gangster film vibe with a Marvel twist, saying, "This ain’t a peachy Kraven. You gotta go brutal with Kraven." The film, which hits theaters on December 13, will dive into the darker side of Marvel characters, with Chandor promising a story that stays grounded and realistic despite its fantastical elements. He emphasized the film's serious tone, saying, “We believe in this story like it was really happening.”

Chandor was eager to explore the intense nature of Kraven’s story, and the R-rating allowed for a more mature, gritty portrayal of the character. “When you get into those books, it’s pretty intense,” he said. “When the studio gave us the opportunity to make this an R-rated film, we jumped at the chance.” He described the film as a blend of “intense Grindhouse stuff” and deep character exploration.

Casting Taylor-Johnson as Kraven was crucial, and Chandor noted the physical demands of the role. “To find an actor who has the chops to stand toe-to-toe with these other actors, but also move with this sort of animalistic dance, was key,” Chandor explained. Taylor-Johnson, meanwhile, spoke about Kraven’s complexity and iconic image, calling the character “real” and “layered,” and saying, “Kraven is a hunter, not a poacher. But once you start applying that to human beings, that’s when it becomes a pretty dark story.”

The footage from Kraven the Hunter offered a taste of the film’s brutality. In one clip, Kraven is transported to a prison colony where he fights his way through a vicious gauntlet of prisoners and gang leaders before escaping into a snowy tundra. Another clip showed Kraven setting traps in the wilderness to hunt men who were illegally killing wildlife, culminating in a suspenseful chase involving a helicopter. These scenes highlighted the film's raw intensity and Kraven’s savage nature.

Karate Kid: Legends: A Legacy of Family and Fight

Next up was Karate Kid: Legends, with stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio introducing the first trailer. The film, set for release on May 28, 2025, brings together Chan, the star of the 2010 Karate Kid reboot, and Macchio, who starred in the original films and the hit series Cobra Kai. The new film focuses on family, fighting, and the passing of wisdom between generations.

The trailer, led by rising star Ben Wang, emphasized the importance of family and the film’s impressive stunt work. Chan’s character is heard asking, “Is it worth fighting for it? Or not?” This question reflects the core theme of the movie: understanding what’s truly valuable in life and whether it’s worth the struggle. Fans were treated to a mix of action-packed fight sequences and heartfelt moments, setting the stage for a film that blends nostalgia with fresh energy.

Venom: The Last Dance: A Bittersweet Goodbye

Fans of the Venom franchise were especially excited to see new footage from Venom: The Last Dance, the third and final installment in the Tom Hardy-led series. Hardy, who has portrayed Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote counterpart for over half a decade, reflected on his time in the role, saying, “I’ve absolutely loved playing Eddie. It’s been one of the best things in my life, so it’ll be sad to see him go.”

Director Kelly Marcel, who worked closely with Hardy on all three films, teased what’s in store for audiences in the finale, which opens next week. “We find him where we left them at the end of Venom 2,” Marcel said. “Now they’re fugitives on the run. The Last Dance is a road trip movie where they’re being chased by people from both our world and other worlds, and the longer they stay together, the more they realize staying together puts the world in jeopardy.”

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple, who join the cast for this final chapter, spoke about their characters. Ejiofor plays a strict military man tasked with dealing with the symbiotes, while Temple’s character, who works on the scientific side, often clashes with him. Their dynamic adds new layers of tension to the story.

Hardy also shared details about the unique process of filming his scenes with Venom, revealing that he used multiple earpieces to hear recordings of his Venom voice while acting. This method allowed him to perform both characters during their interactions. Hardy praised his long-time collaboration with Marcel, explaining their creative process: “I come up with these fantastic ideas, talk at Kelly until she says ‘that’s enough,’ and then she goes away and comes back with things I’d never thought of but that fit perfectly.”

The panel ended on a bittersweet note as Hardy and Marcel confirmed that this film would mark the end of Eddie and Venom’s story. “We always saw this as three movies,” Marcel said. “The arc for Venom and Eddie closes here.” However, she hinted that the film may contain Easter eggs for potential future symbiote stories, leaving the door open for more explorations of the Venom universe.

When asked about the possibility of a Spider-Man crossover, Marcel expressed enthusiasm but remained non-committal, saying, “I would love to see Venom in Spider-Man, but who knows.”

A Grand Finale and New Beginnings

Sony’s presentation at New York Comic Con offered a thrilling glimpse into the future of three beloved franchises. Whether it’s Kraven’s brutal origin story, the next chapter in Karate Kid’s legacy, or the emotional farewell of Venom, fans have plenty to look forward to. As one era ends with Venom: The Last Dance, another begins with Kraven the Hunter, while Karate Kid: Legends promises to keep a timeless story alive for a new generation.