The stars of ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ are excited for audiences to experience the action-packed journey the film delivers. On ‘The Knockturnal’ podcast, actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple sat down to discuss their experience joining the ‘Venom’ universe and what sets this movie apart.
Both actors, familiar with the comic book world, expressed admiration for Tom Hardy’s long-standing dedication to the role of Venom. “Tom is absolutely exquisite as Venom,” one of the actors shared, highlighting Hardy’s deep connection to the character, a bond built over seven years of passion and commitment.
At the core of the film is a script by Kelly Marcel, who also made her directorial debut with this installment. Marcel crafted new layers for the characters, focusing on the evolving friendship between Eddie and Venom, which moves away from traditional hero-villain dynamics. Ejiofor and Temple praised Marcel’s work, with one remarking, “Kelly being a female director on a movie like this is badass—it’s her first film, and she knocked it out of the park.”
When it came to their own roles, both actors enjoyed the moral complexities of their characters. Ejiofor explained his character, General Strickland, as a two-star general responsible for keeping secrets under wraps, but whose mission becomes complicated by science. “That challenge made the role even more enticing,” he noted. Temple’s character, a scientist with personal ties to extraterrestrial symbiotes, was a thrill for her to portray, especially given her character’s emotional connection to a childhood experience.
Off-screen, the cast’s chemistry was equally notable, translating into authentic, tension-filled moments on set. “Sometimes the conflict felt so real,” they recalled, which only added to the intensity of their performances. Despite the occasional friction, the camaraderie helped maintain a smooth working environment, with one actor humorously adding that they resolved disputes by “removing people.”
As for the future of their characters, both Ejiofor and Temple teased the possibility of continuing their stories within the ‘Venom’ universe. They even joked about a potential battle between their characters, playfully referring to themselves as “Chaos and Control”—nicknames born during the interview.
