Venom is one of the most reviled villains in Spider-Man’s world. While we were introduced to him on the screen in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, there wasn’t enough there to really get the depth of his and Spider-Man’s—we’ll call it contempt—for each other. Tom Hardy stars as Venom in the new Venom movie, and there is so much Venom, there will actually not be any room for any Spider-Man.
While at the press junket, Hardy invoked Venom’s disdain for Spider-Man by questioning his full hero potential. So, what exactly does Hardy think is holding Spider-Man back? His suit. Actually, the fact that his suit is made of lycra. Hardy and Ahmed really had this conversation, and they talked about the proper use for the material.
Hardy: He’s a mate, but Spider-Man to me, I look at him and I’m like, that’s a kid who goes *thwip thwip*, and wears lycra. That’s what I see.
Ahmed: There’s nothing heroic about lycra? Is that what you’re saying?
Hardy: If you’re a figure skater, yes. If you’re on a bobsled team, yes. I don’t get putting on the lycra to fight crime.
Ahmed: What if you’re Usain Bolt? Usain Bolt wears lycra.
Hardy: Yes, but it’s not Spider-Man, is it?
Ahmed: So actually there’s an argument that some of the most heroic people on the planet wear lycra, actually.
Hardy: Yeah, for legitimate reasons.
Ahmed: But Spider-Man needs to wear lycra because he’s, like, bendy. Listen, Venom’s naked. Not everyone is that comfortable with their body.
The fact that Tom Hardy even knows what lycra is is ridiculous enough, let alone that Spider-Man seems to be the only hero he thinks is less of a hero for wearing it. Now picture for me, if you will, Tom Hardy and Tom Holland sparring over their choice of suits. Well, Ahmed had a point—Hardy didn’t technically have a suit. Either way, the exchange would be worth the money for a ticket.
Here is the synopsis for Venom:
One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award® nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom.