Inside Sony's New York Comic Con Panel: Venom, Kraven, and Karate Kid Bring the Heat
Sony Pictures gave New York Comic Con fans a special treat with an inside look at three upcoming films: Venom: Last Dance, Karate Kid: Legends, and Kraven the Hunter at their highly anticipated panel hosted by Josh Horowitz of the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Starting with Kraven the Hunter, director J.C. Chandor gave fans a look inside the film’s world and teased what’s to come. “It’s like an old gangster film, basically, and it’s this classic kind of journey — but with a little bit of a Marvel spin on it,” he revealed.
He shared why he was eager to join the project, expressing his excitement for diving into an R-rated film and exploring the comic’s themes in a mature way. Chandor continued: “There’s definitely this sort of fascination I have with the gray areas of the human experience. I don’t think anyone starts out their life wanting to be villains.”
Moments later, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joined the stage, surprising the crowd in full Kraven glory. “It’s always interesting playing a villain, and I think it comes with a lot more depth and complexity. He’s real. He’s not an alien, he’s not a visual VFX monster,” he said. “He’s a man who’s made a choice to be a hunter, a killer. I think that comes with a lot of layers.”
The panel also treated fans to a sneak peek of Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven escaping a prison. It’s vicious, wild, fast-paced, and gives the audience an intense glimpse into what’s to come.
Following that strong showing was Karate Kid: Legends, with the trailer starring legends Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. New Karate Kid star Ben Wang showed off action, thrills, and relationship-building in the trailer that stays true to the heart of the original films. The movie is set to release on May 28, 2025.
And then, the moment everyone was waiting for: Venom: The Last Dance. Director Kelly Marcel confirmed this will be the final Venom film. Tom Hardy shared his bittersweet feelings, saying, “I’ve absolutely loved playing Eddie, and Venom, and other people that you don’t know. It’s been one of the best things in my life, so it’ll be sad to see him go.”
But this doesn’t mean the end for Hardy or Marcel, as there are still stories left to explore. Horowitz raised the question on every fan's mind: Will there be a Spider-Man vs. Venom film? “I would love to see Venom in Spider-Man, but who knows,” Marcel replied. Hardy, however, gave fans real hope, saying, “I would love to fight Spider-Man. I would like to fight him now.”
While Venom: The Last Dance may mark the end, Marcel hinted at the possibilities, saying, “There are lots of places to go and maybe there are a few Easter eggs in here that might start that journey off.”
Venom: The Last Dance is out now.
