First Watch: Tom Hardy's "Venom" is Going to Consume You!

Tom Hardy’s Venom is coming, and promises to leave Carange in its wake! ComicWatch gives our first in-depth look at Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock in Venom, the upcoming Sony Spider-Man spinoff film featuring the raw brutal finesse of Marvel’s favorite anit-hero.

Before becoming the symbiote known as Venom, there was Eddie Brock, a young journalist who is humiliated by Spider-Man. While he began his comic run as a villain, he’s since taken many forms, including the hero. Sony Pictures Venom adaptation puts Tom Hardy in the driver’s seat as character Eddie Brock, who not only becomes the title character but is forced to address his relationship with the alien symbiote, while also facing its offspring, Carnage, some would say an even more powerful symbiote, as well as several other evil spawn.

Directed by Ruben Fleisher, written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley, as well as Ron Lim and Sam Delarosa, the movie is inspired by Venom: Lethal Protector, a six-issue limited series that notably reinvented Venom from a Spider-Man villain to a Marvel Comics anti-hero. The story-arc places Venom in a position where he makes a decision to move from New York City to San Francisco after coming to an agreement with his former rival Spider-Man. As for the Planet of the Symbiotes tie-in, another inspiration for the film, Eddie Brock’s relationship is with his symbiote and the influence it has on him is explored in-depth. Also written by David Michelinie, Planet of the Symbiotes follows Venom fighting an army of symbiotes with the help of Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider.

Just like with every big superhero film in the world of fandom, the rumors and speculation begin circulating as soon as we hear the movie is possibly in production! There have been no exceptions here, especially in regards as to how Sony plans on filming a Venom feature without Spider-Man and who the Venom movie villain(s) will be, but star Tom Hardy gave everyone the first clue with this social media image that he posted – and then promptly took down! Thanks, Mr. Hardy!

The image of Hardy as Venom is framed by Venom’s nemesis, Carnage, who had been rumored to be the antagonist of the Venom movie for some time. Carnage will be in the film but he isn’t the only symbiote who Hardy’s character will face off against! The first official photo released of Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock held a clue, Brock held a notepad in the photo and under close inspection, the ‘Life Foundation’ had been scribbled on it! This points to Venom’s other symbiote offspring, the five soldiers of the evil that the ‘Life Foundation’ bonded to symbiote suits will definitely be among Brock’s antagonists in the film as well as Michelle Williams who has also been cast in the film and is playing Anne Weying, Eddie Brock’s ex-wife in the comics who goes on to become She-Venom, whether friend or foe in film, its hard to say at this point. Carnage is expected to be the film’s main villain played by Rogue One actor Riz Ahmed also cast as Cletus Kasady, the psychotic hosts of the Carnage symbiote. Jenny Slate, Reid Scott, and Scott Haze were also in negotiations to join the film’s cast, but those verified as of now include Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, and Jenny Slate. Unable to determine exactly who Woody Harrelson will be playing, it is reported he was cast as a henchman and given his status, I’d wager he will be assuming one of the symbiotes.

The biggest news thus far was just recently released because everyone has been wondering how Sony plans on doing a Venom movie with no Spider-Man at all?! Tom Holland’s Spider-Man that appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is now reported to appear in Venom in some shape, form, or fashion. American producer Jon Schnepp appeared on one of the most recent episodes of Collider Movie Talk, and informed the hosts that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, which was most recently seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming last July, is set to make an appearance in the Venom film! “I’m gonna say it right here on this show, Spider-Man is gonna be in Venom,” Schnepp revealed. “For the last couple months, we’ve been talking about Venom, we’ve been hearing about how Sony’s keeping it all separated. Spider-Man’s in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but every other character that’s in the Spider-Man universe is separate.” This is due to a deal that Marvel made with Sony when they were facing serious financial problems and Sony obtained rights to most of the Spider-Man villains! When Schnepp was asked if the appearance of Spider-Man might be a cameo, he hinted that it might even be more than that.

“Like a cameo, like a who-knows-what-eo,” Schnepp answered. “All I’m sayin’ is Spider-Man, and I’m talkin’ about Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, is gonna be in Venom.”

Tom Hardy stars as the title anti-hero Venom alongside Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, and Jenny Slate…and Tom Holland according to Schnepp! As more details become available, ComicWatch will keep you updated!