Last February, whenMarvel and Sonyannounced plans to bringSpider-Maninto theMarvelCinematic Universe with yet another reboot, most assumed that Sony’s Spider-Man spinoffsVenomandThe Sinister Sixwere no longer happening. A report from last February claimed that the studio may still move forward on these movies, but we haven’t heard any updates since then. Today we have word fromThe Hollywood ReporterthatVenomis in fact moving forward, with Sony hiring Dante Harper to write the script.
The project will not be connected to Sony’s newSpider-Manproject, withVenomexpected not only to stand on its own, but also launch a separate franchise. The project has seen a number of filmmakers come and go, withGary RossandJosh Trankset to direct at one point. Writing teams such asRhett Reese&Paul Wernick(Deadpool) andAlex Kurtzman&Roberto Orciwere attached to write the script at various points in the development process.
Topher Graceplayed Eddie Brock/Venomin 2007’sSpider-Man 3. The character was created in 1988 byDavid Micheline, with artwork provided byTodd McFarlaneandMike Zeck.Venomis an alien symbiote that needs a human host to survive, which provides the human with incredible powers. The character was originally conceived as a villain, but he became an anti-hero and almost a bona fide good guy in a lengthy stretch of the comics.
The currentMarvel Comicsportray Eddie Brock/Venom as a villain who has teamed up with Flash Thompson, Peter Parker’s old high school nemesis who now works as a government agent. It isn’t clear which version of this iconic character will be used for this new movie. The project doesn’t have a director lined up at this time, but if production will actually start this summer, we may hear more soon about a director and even some cast members coming aboard.
Avi AradandMatthew Tolmach, who producedThe Amazing Spider-ManandThe Amazing Spider-Man 2for Sony, are coming back to produce this spinoff, with Palak Patel andEric Finemanoverseeing the project for Sony. Dante Harper performed a rewrite onEdge of Tomorrowand he also wrote the upcoming thrillerSleepless NightstarringJamie Foxx. Are you glad thisspinoffis finally moving forward?
