Kraven the Hunter and Venom 3

SUMMARY

  • The filmmakers chose an R-rating to fully explore Kraven's intense and mature themes, which wouldn’t fit a PG-13 framework.
  • The film delves into Kraven’s traumatic family background, shaping his complex character and moral dilemmas.
  • The gritty narrative and raw storytelling aim to do justice to Kraven’s character, even if it limits the box-office reach.

Kraven the Hunter, the standalone film about the titular anti-hero has finally hit the theatres and brings a dark and gritty tale to life. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has done an excellent job at portraying the complex Sergei Kravinoff, much like Tom Hardy’s Venom. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024) | Image via Sony PicturesAaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024) | Sony Pictures

However, Venom was able to carve out a niche with its PG-13 rating, but Kraven the Hunter is unapologetic about its R-rated nature. So why did the filmmakers go with this creative choice? Here’s a breakdown for those who are curious. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson on why Sony couldn’t fit Kraven the Hunter into a PG-13 box

Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024) | Image via Sony PicturesAaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024) | Sony Pictures

Venom proved that edgy anti-hero storytelling can be possible even if the movie is PG-13 rated, and it also increases its box-office appeal. And that’s precisely why the decision to make Kraven the Hunter an R-rated movie might come as a surprise to many. But Aaron Taylor-Johnson broke down why the film couldn’t fit the same mold, and shared many insights on the Happy Sad Podcast. 

We wanted to have emotion and heart and like depth and layer to this character and then obviously there’s that physical element and one of those things. We really tried you know, we couldn’t squeeze this thing into a PG-13 box you know. 

At some point, it was limiting us to tell the story, not only on the action like everyone’s seeing some stuff in the trailers like well our overall intensity to the material. When you’re dealing with adult themes and the stories of like, you know.

The filmmakers were trying to embrace the raw and unfiltered essence of Kraven’s character through this creative choice. They wanted the film to thrive on grittier and more mature themes, even if it meant that they would have to depart from Sony’s PG-13 comfort zone. 

Exploring Kraven the Hunter’s backstory through Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s eyes

Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the HunterAaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter (2024) | Sony Pictures

One of the most striking elements of Kraven the Hunter is how it explores the backstory of Kraven and his harrowing origins. Taylor-Johnson also explained the emotional complexity of the character, lightly brushing up on his family trauma and moral codes. 

Kraven’s backstory and his family trauma is real. He’s got a head mafia mobster father and his mother is mentally unwell, and you can get that from the comic books and stuff. Some fans understand that, but it gives so much context to why Sergei kravinoff goes on this path of villain.

And also the psychological damage that he’s doing as he goes along the way of trying to fight injustice and be this vigilante while the effects and the actions are going to lead up to some consequences.

This psychological depth, paired with the character’s quest for justice, paints Kraven as more than just a hunter. With so many gruesome details that are important to depict the whys and hows of Kraven, it wouldn’t be a smart decision to cut them out to keep the narrative more viewer-friendly. 

Ultimately, the decision to make it an R-rated movie aligned with what the character stood for, it was a risk, but a worthy one. Whether the gamble pays off at the box office is yet to be seen. 

Kraven the Hunter is currently in theatres.

Aaron Taylor-JohnsonKraven The Hunter

Written by Sonika Kamble

Articles Published: 406

Sonika thrives on her passion for cinema, artistic expression, and philosophical exploration. Every medium of storytelling intrigues her, and she can’t help but dissect the layers to unravel the deeper meaning behind an arc or a scene. She finds contentment in playing chess, vibing to background scores, and penning the next chapter of her book. Sonika is driven by the idea of being a dutiful and responsible human who dedicates herself to a task, regardless of the outcome—a principle she’s committed to upholding at FandomWire.