Tom Hardy shows off his incredibly intense training regime for 'Venom' role

Tom Hardy is one of those actors versatile enough to play a wide array of characters, including – on at least one occasion – two in the same film.

The Londoner has taken a break from reading bedtime stories on CBeebies to begin filming his title part in Venom, the upcoming first film in Sony’s Marvel Universe.

You might remember him going big on the ol’ mixed martial arts training in preparation for playing Bane in The Dark Knight Rises and Tommy Conlon in Warrior, and now it looks like he’s in for more of the same… only even more intense.

Venom has been filming for a few weeks, but before all that began it seems its star was working with some pros to get his fitness up to the levels he wants it to be for the film.

Footage has been shared of Hardy embarking on a session with MMA lightweight Jack McGann, and the fighter’s father (and former UFC champ Michael Bisping’s one-time manager) Anthony.

The tomhardydotorg Instagram page also has a few stills from other training sessions, which – all things considered – look like very hard work.

Based on one of Spider-Man’s arch-enemies, Venom is due to be released in the United States in October 2018.

Ruben Fleischer, whose previous films include Gangster Squad and Zombieland, is attached as director, while we’re expecting more cast announcements in the coming weeks and months.

Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams have all been mentioned in connection with the project, but we’re waiting on official confirmation from Sony.

(Images: Rex/Instagram)