Skip to main content

The Venom movie is back on, but Spider-Man may be a no-show

Now that Spider-Man’s big-screen future is arranged, it was only a matter of time before Sony Pictures turned its attention to one of the webslinger’s greatest foes and the most likely spinoff movie candidate, Venom.

A new report claims that the Marvel Comics antihero is once again the subject of a potential solo movie, but it’s unlikely that this iteration of Venom will have any cinematic connection to the new Spider-Man. The script for the film is reportedly being penned by Edge of Tomorrow screenwriter Dante Harper.

Recommended Videos

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Venom movie is being produced by longtime Spider-Man stewards Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, and is being envisioned as the start of a new franchise not connected to the upcoming, still-untitled Spider-Man reboot co-produced by Sony and Marvel Studios.

Created by David Michelinie, Mike Zeck, and Todd McFarlane, Venom debuted in a 1988 issue of The Amazing Spider-Man and quickly became a fan-favorite enemy of Peter Parker and his costumed alter ego. A sentient alien that bonds with a host entity and gives its host powerful abilities, Venom was first introduced as a new costume Peter Parker discovered on a far-off planet, only to have Peter forcibly remove the costume when it began influencing his actions and his mind. The alien subsequently bonded with various other characters in the Marvel Comics universe, with differing results — often creating a new, powerful villain with a hatred for Spider-Man.

The most recent incarnation of Venom is the character’s most heroic to date, with the alien bonding with Peter Parker’s former high-school classmate and war hero Flash Thompson, and Flash gaining enough mastery over the alien to use the powers it grants him for noble purposes. It’s unknown which iteration of Venom will be the inspiration for the film.

Venom appeared in 2007’s Spider-Man 3, with Topher Grace portraying the alien’s human host, photographer Eddie Brock.

Venom movie has been in development for almost a decade now, with various writers, directors, and plans for the project being announced then subsequently scrapped over time. At one point, Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese were attached to the film, only to have it stall out after The Amazing Spider-Man franchise was abandoned.

There’s no word on the timeline the studio envisions for the Venom movie.

Rick Marshall
Former Contributing Editor, Entertainment
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Tom Hardy says the Spider-Man and Venom crossover almost happened
Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Venom.

Last year, Tom Hardy's time as Venom apparently came to an end in the third movie, Venom: The Last Dance, without a promised showdown between the actor and Tom Holland, the MCU's Spider-Man. For years, Sony teased a potential meeting and setup the battle of the Toms, but it never came to pass. Now, Hardy has shared a partial explanation why.

Via Variety, Hardy appeared on The Discourse Podcast and declined to specifically say why his character never met Holland's Spidey. However, he did appear to agree with the host's suggestion that "studio politics" ultimately killed it.

Read more
Where is Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Avengers: Doomsday?
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

Is the friendly web-slinger going to show up in Avengers: Doomsday?

Yesterday, Marvel announced its principal cast for Avengers: Doomsday. MCU veterans like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, and Sebastian Stan were all announced in the Doomsday cast. One name was noticeably missing: Tom Holland.

Read more
5 great animated movies you should stream right now
Chihiro with a dragon in Spirited Away.

Animation has never been more exciting, with streaming services packed with hidden gems, recent hits, and beloved classics. Whether it be a heartwarming adventure, a mind-bending fantasy, a laugh-out-loud comedy, or something else completely, there's an animated film waiting that's guaranteed to sweep you away.
From the enchanting Spirited Away to the poignant Wall-E, the best animated movies streaming right now give viewers a glimpse at the peak of the genre. They are a testament to how the powerful medium can inspire and amaze with stunning visuals and surprisingly unforgettable stories. These must-watch animated movies are just a few clicks away, so grab some popcorn and settle in.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

The feline favorite from DreamWorks makes an epic return in his best movie yet, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Here, the titular character (voiced by Antonio Banderas), an arrogant swashbuckling hero who believes he is invincible, is reminded that he is not when he learns he has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him just one final chance to make things right. His only hope lies in the mythical Wishing Star, which can restore his lost lives, but he isn't the only one after it. Goldilocks (Florence Pugh), her crime family of bears, the ruthless Jack Horner (John Mulaney), and a sinister, wolfish bounty hunter known as Death (Wagner Moura) are all in pursuit.

Read more