Tom Hardy deserves full credit for kickstarting Sony’s Spider-Man Universe that continued with Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The symbiote first arrived from out of space and fought Carlton Drake’s Riot before shifting focus toward Cletus Kasady’s Carnage in the sequel, with Hardy voicing the character both times.
Since Eddie Brock is synonymous with Venom, it stands to reason to consider him as the same character that Tom Hardy has portrayed. The actor has dabbled with a number of aspects to make Eddie and Venom come to life for fans, and there are more than a few reasons to consider this as his best role.
He Has A Mature Arc Of Moving On From Love
Love stories in superhero movies are largely formulaic, in that a broken couple usually reconciles following their adventure. Eddie Brock didn’t receive the same treatment, and his arc has been about moving on by accepting that he wasn’t meant to be with Anne.
It applied to the Venom symbiote as well, who also tried to get Eddie back with Anne but had to similarly realize it wasn’t going to happen. It’s a point that applies even in real life, with the story of letting go being a very mature one that is rarely seen in superhero movies.
He Has Genuine Character Development
There is a particular focus on the impact of Eddie Brock’s bad decisions with the Venom symbiote, which has set him on the path to making up for his mistakes. Both Eddie and Venom have progressed considerably, with Eddie changing from an arrogant reporter to a willing vigilante.
Venom started out wanting nothing but to eat people, but he has now controlled his carnivorous nature to try and help innocents. Tom Hardy has had the opportunity to dive into two extremes for his performance, with the actor going for both a deliberately unlikeable performance and a very likable one.
Hardy Plays Two Roles At The Same Time
This is impressive even if character depth is disregarded because Tom Hardy essentially acts all by himself and convinces audiences that there are two people in the scene. The Venom symbiote is voiced by Hardy, who visualizes the character while performing on set.
Venom and Eddie’s chemistry has been the stand-out aspect of the movies and Hardy deserves credit for making this come to life. Both Eddie and the symbiote come across as two different personalities, meaning Hardy has enough material to keep things interesting while acting as both characters.
More Room For Comedy
Tom Hardy isn’t known for comedic performances and the actor became famous for gritty and hard-hitting roles. Venom provides him with a solid platform to come across as a genuine comic, as Eddie’s interactions with the symbiote have been heavily layered with jokes.
The role has proven that Hardy can run with whatever material he’s given, along with the possibility of more creative comedy. Venom’s funny quality in the original movie came from his naivete, while the sequel went further by giving him a sardonic personality where he made frequent quips.
Eddie & Venom's Odd Couple Bromance
The two movies in the series have provided several reasons to consider Eddie and Venom as friendship goals, with the duo fighting and reconciling in equal measure. It’s drawn comparisons with The Odd Couple, in that the two can’t live with or without each other.
An issue with twin personality characters is that one tends to supersede the other, but Tom Hardy hasn’t had that problem. His performance has relied on Eddie and Venom’s relationship progressing through a constant work in progress that ultimately makes them stronger as a unit.
The Wide-Reaching Potential Of The Character
The stinger to Venom: Let There Be Carnage showed the titular character venturing into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s likely due to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and fans are excited to see the many possibilities that come with this.
Tom Hardy’s potential appearances in multiverse storylines are a great route to take and it comes down to Venom’s well-rounded characterization. The character doesn’t feel dated in the slightest and there can easily be several more adventures for him that will still keep fans invested. He could continue facing traditional Spider-Man foes or venture further into the multiverse.
Hardy's Changed The Perception Of Venom
Not only has the series been financially successful, but Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has made Venom a badass character. In addition, he’s had several sad aspects to him that allow fans to sympathize with his backstory.
Tom Hardy’s role as Venom has changed his perception from simply being seen as a villain into a mixture of an anti-hero, anti-villain, and a straight-up hero. Mainstream fans don’t consider the Venom symbiote as a one-dimensional creature anymore since Hardy’s performance has humanized him to a great extent.
The Character Works As A Hero Or A Villain
Although Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has placed Venom as the main hero, he can very easily take up his traditional role as Spider-Man’s archenemy if the series wants to go that way. Tom Hardy has played the symbiote as a flawed personality, as Venom has happily devoured innocents to satiate his hunger.
The ending of Let There Be Carnage had Venom make his intentions to eat Spider-Man known, and a possible angle of Peter Parker escaping the symbiote’s clutches can easily be followed through with. Alternatively, Venom can become a full-on hero by teaming up with Spider-Man, which will work just as well since the character is also believable as a good guy.
