Spider-Man 4 Could Bring Venom Back in a Big Way

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Summary

  • Spider-Man 4 with Tom Holland goes into production this summer, sparking rumors and speculations.
  • Venom/Eddie Brock could join the MCU, potentially returning in Spider-Man 4 for a big surprise.
  • Tom Hardy is open to returning as Venom for a crossover with Spider-Man, creating excitement among fans.

As a superhero with extraordinary abilities, Spider-Man carries a heavy burden of responsibility. Over time, this character has represented both outstanding comic book artistry and movie production as well as some missteps from Sony.

The upcoming fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe-based Spider-Man series, starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man, is set to begin production this summer. This news has sparked excitement among fans eager for more Spiderman adventures, particularly with the character portrayed by Holland, and those who appreciate well-crafted MCU storylines. It’s been four years since “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the final chapter in the original trilogy directed by Jon Watts, which featured Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire as Spidermen alongside Holland. Since then, fans have only received small hints about what the new film might entail. There’s been speculation about whether it will focus on multiple universes or a street-level narrative, questions about how characters like Peter’s friend Ned and his girlfriend MJ will fit into the story given they can’t remember him, and even rumors about potential new cast members. However, beyond some casting confirmations, little concrete information has been revealed.

Spider-Man 4 Needs A Big Surprise To Resonate With Fans

Perhaps A Symbiote Surprise?

As production progresses swiftly and a release date likely falling in 2026, it’s plausible and desirable for Venom/Eddie Brock, skillfully portrayed by Tom Hardy, to reappear in the MCU now that his trilogy has concluded. Given the conclusion of Hardy’s Venom storyline in “Venom: The Last Dance” and his previous brief crossover in “No Way Home”, along with Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) taking a break after Kraven the Hunter underperformed critically and commercially, it seems fitting for the MCU’s Spider-Man films to bring Venom into their continuity. Whether he is a variant or the same character from his universe, this unexpected return could keep fans of “Spider-Man 4” guessing like previous installments and provide Venom with an opportunity to develop alongside other Marvel characters.

But What Has Venom Been Up To In His Solo Films?

Tom Hardy Certainly Went For It

In 2018, Sony ignited the Storyline Surrounding Universe (SSU) by debuting Hardy’s extraterrestrial adventure in the movie “Venom”. The Life Foundation, a space-exploring bioengineering company, stumbled upon an asteroid teeming with slime-like organisms named symbiotes during their search for life beyond Earth. Unfortunately, the four samples they collected fell en route to Earth, but the Foundation managed to retrieve three—one of which was Venom’s biote. Eddie Brock, a rule-breaking investigative journalist with a knack for witty remarks and uncovering sensational stories, learns that the Life Foundation has been secretly experimenting on human subjects to study these symbiotes and their survival requirements.

In the beginning, tough encounters lead to Anne Weying losing her job and ending their relationship due to difficulties. Later on, Eddie breaks into one of LF’s labs, causing Venom to attach to him. After this merger, Eddie discovers that Venom is a distinct being inside him, requiring his host body to thrive in Earth’s oxygen. The story progresses without revealing much more, but Eddie and Venom eventually develop trust and realize their shared objectives. As a result, the rest of Venom and its sequels follow the duo on various adventures as they uncover their combined anti-hero persona. In the final installment, Venom: The Last Dance, Venom sacrifices himself to save Eddie and humanity.

The Venom Trilogy Was Financially Successful, But Still Failed

Money Isn’t Everything, You Guys

Despite Venom being Sony’s only commercially successful character thus far, movies like Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter have not added much to their cinematic universe. Critically, these films have fared no better than their financially struggling counterparts, with Venom holding a 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes; Venom: Let There Be Carnage scoring highest at 58%; and The Last Dance sitting in the middle with a 40%.

Poor quality special effects on the oozing main character, weak dialogue, simple and shallow plot development, insufficient ties to Spider-Man, and underdeveloped villains were major flaws in each film. Enhancing Venom and Eddie Brock by introducing additional characters, storylines, and settings within the Marvel Cinematic Universe could make them more engaging, particularly if Tom Hardy continues to lead.

Venom Has Two Ways to Enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe

In numerous realistic scenarios, Venom could make a comeback in the MCU. Yet, the approach that would be most gratifying for both Sony and Marvel Studios might involve retaining Tom Hardy as Venom, considering the strong affection fans have for him. This reduces their options to two primary paths.

Path One: The No Way Home Cameo Continuation

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I believe the most natural progression for introducing Venom into the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be by building upon the existing trilogy and the intriguing cameo in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. The intertwined tales of Eddie Brock and Venom have already hinted at a connection, so revisiting these characters after the tantalizing teaser in “No Way Home” seems like a logical next step.

In the event that Venom perished in “The Last Dance”, there could be a mechanism for Eddie Brock to be brought back into the MCU. Perhaps, some residual Venom goo left behind at the bar in “No Way Home” could act as a catalyst, reuniting Eddie with his symbiote counterpart. This approach allows the character to grow and evolve without discarding the appealing aspects and crucial storylines of the Venom trilogy.

Moreover, it would be more rewarding for audiences to root for a familiar character in any potential showdown between Spider-Man and Venom, rather than introducing yet another version of the same character, as was done in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Deadpool & Wolverine”. However, it’s important to note that there are always alternative paths forward for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Path Two: A Variant Played By The Same Actor

Doomsday as well as Secret Wars, introducing a variant of Venom-Brock could potentially be successful, assuming Marvel and Sony handle it appropriately.

For instance, the filmmakers for Spider-Man 4 might choose to make Eddie Brock a key figure in Spidey’s next multiverse escapade, compelling Tom Holland’s Peter Parker to track down a Brock variant that eventually becomes Venom. They could also create an MCU version of Eddie Brock who discovers the residual symbiote goo left behind by his SSU counterpart, transforming him into the powerful symbiote.

Although fans believe they have discovered numerous connections between Venom: The Last Dance and Spider-Man 4, no official confirmation about these links has been made, leaving ample room for various possibilities.

Tom Hardy is Open To Returning & A Crossover

Despite Venom: The Last Dance being reported as Eddie Brock’s final significant portrayal of the anti-hero, Tom Hardy has frequently shown interest in collaborating with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, even stepping out of his main trilogy. According to recent reports from The Direct, Hardy subtly hinted at potential crossover rumors during a fan event in Mexico. At this event, he provided an ambiguous response to questions about returning and teaming up with the well-known web-slinger, suggesting a lack of specific knowledge or understanding about the topic.

Could we potentially encounter Spider-Man someday? Well, it’s not something I can confirm or deny, given that this is the final film. However, if the opportunity ever arises, I would be thrilled about it!

In simpler terms, when Tom Hardy stated that “The Last Dance” would be the last Venom movie he’s involved with, it might give the impression that he won’t reprise his role in any capacity for a while. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of him appearing in future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects as Venom or other roles. The phrase “there are always possibilities” implies that there’s still potential for his character to appear again, even if it’s not confirmed yet. Essentially, while we don’t know for sure if Tom Hardy’s Venom will be part of Spider-Man 4, the storyline seems to suggest a continuation of the Venom-in-or-out trajectory in some form or another.

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2025-03-22 20:55