Conor McGregor is amongst the highest-paid and most well-known athletes on the planet but his influence reaches far beyond the sports world.
The UFC superstar apparently served as inspiration for acclaimed actor Tom Hardy, who portrays both Eddie Brock and the title character in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Venom.
Hardy explained to Ireland’s RTÉ Entertainment during a press junket that McGregor was “a key note” to how he prepared for the role.
“It was not [the character] Venom – he was not based on him – there were more elements of Eddie Brock which needed to be pinned on somebody who’s incredibly handy physically,” Hardy said. “And, obviously, Conor is incredibly handy physically.
“There was an aspect the studio wanted somebody who could fight, which they always do in these sort of hero movies. They want somebody who can have a scrap. Conor obviously wants to have a scrap with everybody, so that’s useful.”
Hardy is no stranger to combat sports training himself, as he starred in the 2011 mixed martial arts film Warrior that also featured former UFC title contenders Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Nate Marquardt among others.
When asked if he thought McGregor might be offended or flattered by the comparison, Hardy replied: “Conor doesn’t strike me as the type of person who might be that bothered.”
Hardy also explained that there were elements of Woody Allen’s neuroses and Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones character that served as inspiration for the role, so don’t expect to see Venom on screen doing the billionaire strut while insulting fellow Marvel characters with an Irish brogue.
“[McGregor] was definitely a key note but I don’t know if you’d recognize him in the portrayal,” Hardy added. “It was more of an interior choice, if that makes sense.”
Venom is set for its Canadian theatrical release on Oct. 5, one day prior to when McGregor is scheduled to headline UFC 229 against Khabib Nurmagomedov in Las Vegas.
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