Venom: The Last Dance Feels Like Its Missing A Major Cameo

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Venom: The Last Dance Feels Like Its Missing A Major Cameo

As a die-hard Spidey fan who’s grown up with the wall-crawler swinging through the streets of New York, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment over the latest Venom installment, “Venom: The Last Dance.” It seemed like the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), giving us a tantalizing taste of a crossover we’ve been craving.

This article contains spoilers for Venom: The Last Dance

Key Takeaways

  • Venom: The Last Dance closes the Venom trilogy, refocusing the story on conflicts within the Sony Spider-Man Universe.
  • Despite no Spider-Man cameo, the SSU could still build towards a Sinister Six team with existing antiheroes.
  • The post-credits scenes hint at future threats like Knull, missing out on opportunities for crossovers with Spider-Man.

Kelly Marcel’s “Venom: The Last Dance” wraps up the Venom trilogy, marking six years since Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom” initiated the Sony Spider-Man Universe. For the moment, the studio is closing a chapter on its original lead character, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and the Venom symbiote. Despite “Venom: The Last Dance” concluding the relationship between Eddie and the symbiote, discussions about their potential future appearances are ongoing.

In the background of Tom Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the SSU (Secret Service Unit) has been gradually creating its own lineup of antiheroes. As we progress towards Spider-Man 4, there’s uncertainty about whether a massive collision between these realms might occur. There have been whispers about Holland joining a Venom film since the initial release, but with three films under their belts, there’s an empty Spider-Man role in the Venom universe.

Is Spider-Man in Venom: The Last Dance?

Venom: The Last Dance Feels Like Its Missing A Major Cameo

Contrary to widespread speculation and occasional hints from Hardy and Holland themselves, it has been confirmed that Spider-Man will not feature in “Venom: The Last Dance.” Notably, no rendition of the web-slinger is present. This effectively debunks theories suggesting that the SSU could reintegrate Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker. Although the universe where SSU operates remains ambiguous and it’s unclear if this realm has its own Spider-Man, 2022’s film “Morbius” suggested that it shares continuity with “The Amazing Spider-Man.

Approaching quickly is the R-rated film “Kraven the Hunter,” which brings the SSU (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe) closer to assembling its Sinister Six, although it remains far from having its own Spider-Man. The post-credit scene of “Morbius” hinted at Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/Vulture, who originates from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). With some adjustments, this world’s Sinister Six could plausibly include Morbius, Vulture, Kraven, and Venom. There were even plans for a Black Cat and Silver Sable movie in the past, while integrating these villains into the MCU might also reintroduce Michael Mando’s Scorpion following his tease in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.

In the ending of “Venom: The Last Dance,” there’s no build-up or connection to previous events; instead, it hints at another film where Knull becomes the antagonist rather than Spider-Man. Despite fan anticipation for a sudden appearance by Tom Holland, the first post-credit scene in “Venom: The Last Dance” suggests that the King in Black could pose a threat on par with Thanos, likely bringing together the antiheroes of the SSU. The second scene shows Cristo Fernández’s bartender amidst the wreckage of Area 51, encountering what appears to be a symbiote-infected cockroach – possibly setting up a complicated reunion between Eddie and Venom. Notably, there’s no hint of the classic Spider-Man theme tune throughout any of this.

Venom: The Last Dance Wastes its Cameo Potential

Venom: The Last Dance Feels Like Its Missing A Major Cameo

In the case of “Venom: The Last Dance,” there were several issues that cropped up, however, the post-credit sequences seem to have minimal impact on advancing the narrative for the SSU (Sinister Six Universe). Many fans are growing weary of Knull being portrayed as a multiversal threat, while the idea behind a series of villain movies without Spider-Man was to eventually lead up to a crossover film with Tom Holland’s character.

As a devoted fan, I must say that “Venom: The Last Dance” takes a surprising turn and contradicts the previous setup. Starting from where Venom appeared in the post-credit scene of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it swiftly undoes the possibility of Eddie being sent back to his own realm. The film also chooses to disregard the remnant of the Venom symbiote left behind within the MCU, leaving a sliver of anticipation that “Spider-Man 4” might transport Tom Hardy’s Brock to Earth-616 and reunite him with his longtime companion. However, Hardy himself has hinted at being hesitant about his role in “Spider-Man 4,” telling AP Entertainment that the idea is not something he’s focusing on too much at this time.

I don’t see him in the next Spider-Man movie because I’d have the script. And I don’t have that.”

Hardy wouldn’t reveal to fans if he was in Spider-Man 4, but it seems like a lost chance since the ending of Venom: The Last Dance, with Peter Parker’s New York City being the setting, offered an excellent opportunity for Eddie to encounter a version of Peter Parker. This would have positioned Venom as crucial for Avengers: Secret Wars. Despite rumors of reshoots in New York possibly hinting at a last-minute appearance by Holland, The Last Dance ended without providing a clear direction on where the SSU (Symbiote Spider-Man Universe) is headed, leaving audiences feeling let down.

Previously, discussions about Holland crossovers have taken place, including claims made by Jay Washington of Collider in 2019 that Holland had filmed a scene for the first Venom, but this was removed due to Disney’s involvement with Sony. However, given the poor reception of Venom: The Last Dance, it seems strategic for Disney to maintain separation between the MCU and SSU. Knull is a significant otherworldly threat from Marvel Comics, and while specifics about Spider-Man 4’s storyline remain secret, it’s doubtful that the entire movie will be dedicated to the complex narratives of the SSU.

Despite its flaws, the film Morbius made progress by introducing Keaton’s Vulture into the SSU and hinting at a potential alliance against Spider-Man. Having Keaton reprise his role as an SSU Nick Fury figure could have tied things together more effectively. On the other hand, the tease of Knull felt like a setup for a villain that most viewers aren’t particularly invested in. For those who were looking forward to seeing Spider-Man in Venom: The Last Dance before Spider-Man 4, the absence of Spider-Man appearances was simply another disappointment in an already underwhelming movie.

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2024-10-31 00:35