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Aaron Taylor-Johnson Says Kraven the Hunter Isn’t His Marvel Reboot After Avengers: Age of Ultron
Dec
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is about to bring another Marvel character to life in Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, but the actor insists this isn’t a reboot of his Marvel journey after playing Quicksilver in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
“I’m laughing because I really feel like there’s no connection at all in that respect,” Taylor-Johnson told Entertainment Weekly. “This isn’t a reboot by any means.”
The actor dismisses any confusion over his Marvel roles, emphasizing how Kraven the Hunter stands apart. “This feels worlds apart,” he said. “The beauty for me is that I get to play a character from the ground up. I’ve invested a lot of time into this, and it’s something I’m really proud of.”
Reflecting on Quicksilver and the MCU
Taylor-Johnson also reflected fondly on his time playing Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff’s speedster brother, who tragically died in Age of Ultron. Despite the emotional storyline, Taylor-Johnson has moved on from that chapter.
“That character was incredibly fun to play, especially with Lizzie Olsen, who I think is fantastic,” he said, praising WandaVision for its innovative storytelling. “It was super exciting and really entertaining.”
He also lauded Evan Peters’ comedic take on Quicksilver in WandaVision. “It worked perfectly for that series,” Taylor-Johnson added, recognizing Marvel’s ability to explore multiverse possibilities.
Bringing Kraven to Life
In Kraven the Hunter, Taylor-Johnson stars as Sergei Kravinoff, a fierce antihero navigating his rage, demons, and exceptional hunting skills. The film explores Kraven’s origins and how he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most iconic foes. Directed by J.C. Chandor, the R-rated film also features Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, and Fred Hechinger.
Taylor-Johnson describes the movie as “a gritty gangster story” that offers a clean slate for fans. “You don’t have to be caught up in all of [the MCU timeline],” he said. “It stands on its own.”
Embracing the Physical and Emotional Weight
The role required Taylor-Johnson to undergo a significant physical transformation. “If you look at that comic book character, I knew instantly there’s a physicality to this character,” he explained. “This guy’s got huge arms, he’s ripped down his stomach. That’s the costume.”
Taylor-Johnson added 40 pounds of muscle to match Kraven’s imposing figure and maintained it through reshoots and delays. “I’m not trying to fool anybody,” he said. “I find that Marvel has this incredible stamp of approval around these iconic comic book characters, and I carry the weight of that.”
Looking Ahead
Taylor-Johnson hopes the film will launch a new franchise centered on Kraven. “Where this movie ends, I’d be remiss if you didn’t walk out thinking, ‘I want to see where this goes next,’” he said.
Although the movie faced multiple release delays, Taylor-Johnson remains optimistic. “I think it’s okay to come to the table with skepticism,” he admitted. “But if I’ve done my job, I hope everyone takes that leap of faith with me.”
Kraven the Hunter arrives in theaters on Dec. 13.
