'The critics didn’t like us’: Tom Hardy took bad ‘Venom’ reviews to heart in making the sequel ‘Let There Be Carnage’

Tom Hardy stars in the second installment of the "Venom" franchise and is joined by Woody Harrelson as his foe. Director Andy Serkis and actress Naomie Harris joined Hardy and Harrelson for conversations with Kevin Polowy about what to expect in this exciting nonstop thrill ride. Get an inside look into Hardy's process as he plays dual characters and find out how Harrelson really felt about his appearance in the first film.

Video Transcript

- You live in my body, you live by my rules.

- No.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

- No.

- You can't win.

KEVIN POLOWY: Such a wild ride. The reaction to it from critics and fans were all over the map. There were so many strong opinions about it. Were there any reactions you got from the first movie that sort of inspired your approach writing on this one?

TOM HARDY: Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think you've got to look at anything, like you go, like, why don't people like, you know, why don't they like you? What could you do better? Where do you think you failed? Where do you think you could operate better in that situation?

The critics, they didn't like us. But the people that watched it we're like, well actually, we kind of like it. Well, what did they kind of like? And I collected those chips, I like harmonized that, put it in the think tank, and we went to draft, and it became a collaboration of decisions.

- Hi, Eddie.

KEVIN POLOWY: "Venom" 1 obviously was a huge hit. It was so bonkers. You were in it for a very memorable half a second. But how did you react when you saw the first movie, and how much did that psych you up for this one?

WOODY HARRELSON: I was really psyched about the first one. But I wasn't thrilled with what I did. I thought I should have done a better job in that one scene with Tom. I definitely wanted to do something more interesting in the second one. I didn't have any idea what would happen with the second one.

- All I ever wanted in this world is carnage.

WOODY HARRELSON: When I first saw him years ago, I was like, whoa, that's the new Brando. I think his abilities are-- it just blows my mind how good he is. For him to have all this stuff going on with his symbiote, it's no small affair.

NAOMIE HARRIS: More than anything else, I was blown away by Tom Hardy, because I just think he is such a phenomenal actor. And I just think the achievement of managing to create these completely different characters that are inhabiting one body and make them totally different and totally believable, I just think is extraordinary.

- I will let you eat everybody.

- Promise?

- I promise.

- Oh, yeah.

ANDY SERKIS: Tom's process is extraordinary to watch. And that's one of the great joys of being an actor-director working with in an actor of the caliber of Tom. The process that he worked with was recording Venom's voice and then having Venom play back in his ear. So before every single scene, he'd record the dialogue, and then he'd be able to freely imagine if Venom was in his head.

He'd be able to talk over him, or if he was out, as the Wraith, or know appeared or was actually out, he would be able to literally create the eyeline to where he wanted him to be. So my job was to catch that performance and to frame Venom accordingly and to be organic and let Tom play in that sandbox. And it was just an extraordinary experience.

- What's going to happen? You're going to stop protecting me?

- I am happy to eat Mrs. Chen.

- No, no, you cannot eat Mrs. Chen.

- What?

- Nothing.

KEVIN POLOWY: It does look like you're just having a really good time doing it. Are these movies more fun for you than anything you've done?

TOM HARDY: I think as far as fun goes, 100%, it's one of the most fun I've ever had in my life. As far as responsibility goes and pressure, it's up there too, because you don't want to go wrong. You want to get it right. You want to present the best you possibly can and do right for the audience and the fans and deliver something that's really good.

So you can beat yourself up a bit, maybe, trying to get that. And who knows? It's all subjective anyway. But I think that I'm really proud of the team. I think the movie looks epic. I think it's a stronger movie than the first. And I'm really proud of it.

- Waiting in the darkness for the rescuer who never comes.

- Welcome back, Eddie Brock.