Tom Hardy graced the airwaves of "The Discourse Podcast" from The Playlist, where he confirmed that a potential crossover between his Venom character and Tom Holland's Spider-Man had come "remarkably close to fruition," only to ultimately fall through. The Oscar-nominated actor refrained from disclosing the exact reasons behind the project's collapse, hinting instead at the complexities of studio politics. "We came so close," Hardy revealed, speaking of a collaboration with Holland's Spider-Man. "We reached a proximity that I could scarcely have imagined, save for actually filming together—something I yearned for deeply, for the sheer joy it would have brought."
Podcast host Mike DeAngelo inquired if studio politics were the ultimate culprit behind the crossover's demise, to which Hardy responded cryptically, acknowledging that the project failed "for all the reasons you've probably speculated."
"At its core, for me, it was about the kids," Hardy elaborated on his desire for a Venom-Spider-Man venture. "While adults do adore superhero films, as evidenced by their box office triumphs, it's the children who consistently remind me of the profound impact these characters hold. They wonder why their favorite superheroes don't share the screen."
Hardy first donned the Venom mantle in Sony's 2018 blockbuster, which amassed a colossal $856 million globally. He reprised his role in two sequels, 2021's "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" and the upcoming 2025 film "Venom: The Last Dance," the latter marking his swansong as Venom and grossing $478 million worldwide.
Reflecting on his comic book trilogy during the podcast, Hardy said, "We were bestowed with certain parameters, yet we were fortunate enough to play with a beloved IP like Venom within those confines. We did our utmost and what we loved. We poured our hearts and souls into it, respecting the boundaries imposed. The sheer pleasure of the work outweighed the constraints, as we concentrated on what was permissible. And we cherished every moment."
Ruben Fleischer, who helmed Hardy in the inaugural "Venom" film, affirmed to Fandom in 2019 that the long-term vision had always been to converge Hardy's comic book franchise with Holland's "Spider-Man." "That's the ultimate destination," Fleischer stated at the time. "And that's thrilling, considering we altered Venom's origin [for the first movie]. In the comics, he emanated from Spider-Man, but due to Marvel-Sony intricacies, we couldn't depict that. The exciting buildup is seeing them finally clash."
On the red carpet at last year's "Venom: The Last Dance" premiere, Hardy told Variety, "I'd love to go toe-to-toe with Spider-Man. I'd relish the fight right now. I'm more than ready to clash with Spider-Man today, one hundred percent. I'd never say never."
