In an era where superhero films dominate the box office, ‘Kraven the Hunter’ aims to carve out a unique space for itself as a visceral and gritty supervillain R-rated origin story. Directed by J.C. Chandor and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular anti-hero, the film delves into the raw, blood-soaked journey of Sergey Kravinoff, a man shaped by family and violence. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson reflected on what drew him to the role and the challenges of embodying such a complex character. “I think it was really important to come to this with an open mind and see it as a completely clean new chapter,” he explained. “His character is super complex and interesting. It’s a very traditional gangster story at its core, with a deep family element.”Taylor-Johnson described the relationship between Sergey and his father, played by Russell Crowe, as central to the narrative. “Russell plays my father, this menacing head Russian boss, and my character doesn’t want to be anything like him. That sets him on his path of becoming a villain,” he said. “The style of action and fighting we could bring to this story was so much more interesting. It felt like we couldn’t do it justice as a PG-13 film, so we decided to do it the right way and I’m super proud of this.”Addressing comparisons to his previous Marvel role as Quicksilver in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, Aaron let us in on the stark differences between the two comic book characters he helped bring to life. “That other character was something I played 10 years ago, and it was a joy. But this is completely separate,” he said. “This role required a full transformation, physically and mentally. I had to train intensely and work with a stunt team because it’s such a demanding role.”For director J.C. Chandor, casting the right actors was the first and most critical decision in bringing ‘Kraven the Hunter’ to life. “This character needed an actor who could embody both the animalistic, physical nature of Kraven and deliver the emotional depth required for the role,” Chandor said. “We wanted the stunts to feel practical and old-school, so I needed someone who could fully participate in that while also carrying the dramatic weight of the story.”Praising his leading man’s ability to strike that balance, he noted, “Aaron is dynamic. He had to transform his body and look the part, but also hold his own in scenes with someone like Russell Crowe. There’s a real complexity and sadness to this story, and he brought that to life while pulling off incredible stunt sequences.”He further explains, “Russell plays this menacing figure so well, and his dynamic with Aaron brings depth to the story. It’s a blend of gangster drama and supervillain origin that feels fresh and powerful.”’Kraven the Hunter’, delivers an action-packed, R-rated exploration of the origins of one of Marvel’s most iconic villains. Aaron Taylor-Johnson takes on the role of Kraven, a man whose tumultuous relationship with his ruthless gangster father, sets him on a path of vengeance. This journey leads to brutal consequences and transforms him into not only the world’s greatest hunter but also one of its most feared figures.The film which releases in India on January 1, boasts a stellar cast that includes Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola and Christopher Abbott.Kraven: The Hunter – Official Trailer
Aaron Taylor-Johnson on transforming from superhero in ‘Avengers’ to supervillain in ‘Kraven the Hunter’: I’m super proud of this – EXCLUSIVE |
