Kraven Actor's Jaw-Dropping Transformation: Unveiling the Secrets Behind His Insane Spider-Man Villain Prep

Summary

Aaron Taylor-Johnson went through intense training and weight gain to portray Kraven the Hunter in the upcoming film, including running like a quadruped and studying wildlife.

Kraven the Hunter's conclusion implies his inevitable transformation into a villain, in line with his comic book fate. The anticipated release of Kraven the Hunter in 2024, which coincides with Spider-Man 4, has the potential to pave the way for his evolution into an antagonist within the MCU.

Kraven the Hunter's lead actor, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, discusses the rigorous training and weight gain he underwent to embody the Spider-Man villain. Taylor-Johnson is no stranger to superhero films, having gained fame as the titular hero in the Kick-Ass movies and a minor role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Quicksilver. However, in order to prepare for Sony's Kraven the Hunter, Taylor-Johnson embarked on an unprecedented training regimen.

In an interview with Esquire, Taylor-Johnson revealed the intense training he underwent for his role as Kraven the Hunter. Recognizing the significance of his stomach and arms in portraying the character, the actor dedicated months to intense training, reaching a peak weight of 200 pounds. To convincingly portray Kraven, who possesses animal-like powers in the film, Taylor-Johnson even mastered running on all fours. In addition to physical training, his preparation involved activities like shadowing a hunter to track deer, immersing himself in the life and work of the late wildlife photographer Peter Beard, and spending time with conservationist Damian Aspinall, whom he describes as a "punk-anarchist, Kraven-esque character."

Kraven's Ending Hint Sets Up His Inevitable Villain Turn

Kraven the Hunter's initial trailer hinted at a more positive portrayal of the character than expected. Although the footage showed Taylor-Johnson's Kraven to be as lethal as the character is renowned for, the movie does not depict him as a villain. Initially, Taylor-Johnson's Sergei Kravinoff is characterized as an anti-hero, but the conclusion of Kraven the Hunter implies his eventual transformation into a villain.

Despite the absence of Tom Holland's Spider-Man or any other actor who has portrayed the Marvel hero in a movie, director J. C. Chandor disclosed to Esquire that the film's ending acknowledges Kraven's destiny as depicted in the comic books. He stated, "Sony probably doesn't want me to reveal this upfront, but the story is a tragedy. By the time the final credits roll, if you've been attentive, you won't anticipate a favorable outcome."

According to Chandor, it appears that Taylor-Johnson's portrayal of Kraven the Hunter will either conclude as the comic book villain or take a step towards that direction. Due to the one-year delay of Kraven the Hunter, the film will now be released on August 30, 2024. This places its premiere closer to Holland's Spider-Man 4, rumored to be released in 2025. Given the proximity and the fact that Peter Parker is portrayed as alone in New York City in the MCU's Spider-Man storyline, it is possible that the implied ending of Kraven the Hunter could set up the character to become a villain in the next MCU film featuring Spider-Man.