The Future of Venom Beyond Tom Hardy's Departure
The recent release of Venom: The Last Dance has led many fans to believe that this marked the end of Tom Hardy's tenure as Eddie Brock/Venom. However, this doesn't signify the closure of the Venom movie franchise. In fact, Venom 3 sets the stage for an intriguing direction that could potentially lead to new storylines extending far beyond the Venom franchise, integrating it seamlessly with Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
Opportunities for the Franchise Despite Tom Hardy's Departure
Although Tom Hardy may have concluded his run as Eddie Brock/Venom, this doesn't prevent him from making a return. Hardy has expressed his willingness to reprise his role in a potential King in Black crossover event or any other Spider-Man-related project, provided the opportunity aligns with his personal interest and production preferences.
One possible scenario for a King in Black film could feature Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote teaming up with Spider-Man to thwart Knull and an army of symbiotes blocking the Earth from the sun. In this narrative, Eddie eventually replaces Knull as the new 'King in Black,' a role that comes at the expense of his humanity. This storyline could naturally play out in a future movie, where Hardy's Eddie Brock would merely be a key figure in a sprawling ensemble cast, with his screen time minimized.
An Ensemble-Focused Story with Tom Hardy – ‘A Relatively Low-Key Return’
Tom Hardy has made it clear that he is interested in making a return as Eddie Brock/Venom for a movie that will see him in an entirely new and different role within the larger universe of Sony’s Spider-Man. With Hardy’s reportedly desired diminished on-screen presence and the opportunity for a more unique and self-contained narrative, a potential spin off starring other characters in the Spider-Man universe (Morbius, Kraven, Venom) following suit for Tom Hardy's character could provide an ideal scenario in which fans can be excited about the hero continuing with much less involvement.
