Tom Hardy is one of the most revered actors of his generation. His approval rating is through the roof with pretty every much demographic thanks to beloved roles in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Dunkirk (2017), and, of course, Venom (2018).
Venom may not have the critical prestige of his other films, but it will go down as one of his defining roles thanks to box office success and the fact that it's spawned two sequels. Hardy has stated that he's done with the role, however, which makes now an interesting time to turn back the clock and look at a timeline in which Hardy never played Venom at all. There's an alternative world where Hardy is still part of Marvel, but in a completely different role.
Hardy was seriously considered for Doctor Strange
Hardy has already proven his superhero bona fides with The Dark Knight Rises (2012), but the actor was on a short list of names who were being considered for the role of Doctor Strange. The sorcerer supreme was a crucial cog in the MCU machine, and casting for the film of the same name started as early as 2014.
Deadline reported that two names were being considered for Doctor Strange: Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch. This was before any of the other principle roles had been cast, and before director Scott Derrickson had even gotten involved. Cumberbatch obviously proved to be the victor, and is still playing Strange today.
Hardy's friend Benedict Cumberbatch nabbed the role
That said, it's fascinating to consider a world in which Tom Hardy donned the red cape. The refined, erudite Doctor doesn't really mesh with the persona Hardy has developed over the years, but he has also proven he can go against type with stellar turns in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and Locke (2013). The former is also worth mentioning because it allowed Hardy to share the screen with his Doctor Strange competitor, Cumberbatch.
Cumberbatch has done an excellent job since 2016, and Hardy seems to have had a ball playing Venom since 2018. Interesting as it may have been to have used a Doctor Strange-esque spell to see the Hardy version, we'd say it all worked out for the best.