Image: Columbia Pictures
“Kraven the Hunter” actors Russell Crowe and Ariana DeBose delved into their characters’ essential roles in the life of the titular villain portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Crowe portrays Nikolai Kravinoff, Taylor-Johnson’s father in the Marvel film, whose relationship with the lead was what ultimately forged his path to villainy.
“Nikolai is a very wealthy man, and his kids have grown up with great privilege,” Crowe said. “He’s also a very harsh judge, and he puts his kids under a lot of pressure because he expects them to succeed and excel.”
“As they get a little older, it’s not necessarily a very comfortable place to be when your father is extremely successful and demanding, and has a penchant for violence,” he added.
Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven, whose real name is Sergei Kravinoff, wanted to break free from his family’s blood legacy and this led him to the path to becoming an even more terrifying criminal.
As Kraven trains for the hunt, he is aided by DeBose’s Calypso. Calypso is an anchor in his life and is among the few people in his inner circle.
“The relationship between Kraven and Calypso is meant to feel like lightning in a bottle,” DeBose stated. “It’s sort of this cosmic, astrological, spiritual meeting of two beings who are just destined to be in each other’s lives.”
DeBose also noted how she and her character have the same motivation and drive in terms of her own lineage.
“Calypso is exploring who she is, and a part of that is digging into her ancestry,” she said. “I’ve talked a lot in my career about using your lineage and your heritage. It’s a point of pride, it’s a point of strength, it’s what makes you unique.”
“Kraven the Hunter” is directed by J.C. Chandor with story and screenplay by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway based on Marvel Comics.
Other cast members include Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola and Christopher Abbott. The film, distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, will premiere in local cinemas on Dec. 11.