After Venom: The Last Dance (2024), the future of Sony’s symbiote saga felt uncertain. The trilogy had reached what looked like a natural stopping point. Fans debated whether Eddie Brock’s journey had officially ended. Sony stayed quiet long enough for speculation to build.
Now, the studio has made its move.
Another Venom project is in development—but not in the way anyone predicted. Instead of continuing the current path, Sony is shifting Venom into something else.
That pivot changes the conversation entirely.
Revisiting the Hardy Era
Tom Hardy first stepped into Eddie Brock’s shoes in Venom (2018). Critics split, but audiences showed up. Hardy’s unpredictable energy and the film’s odd-couple humor helped the movie explode at the box office.
Sony leaned into that tone with Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), amplifying the chaos and comedy. Hardy doubled down on the physical performance, strengthening Venom’s place within Sony’s Marvel lineup.
When Venom: The Last Dance (2024) arrived, it carried the weight of expectation. The title suggested finality. Many viewers interpreted it as the end of the road.
Instead, it may have been the end of one format—and the start of another.
Sony’s Development Update
Reporting from The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the next Venom installment will be animated. Sony is not extending the trilogy with another live-action chapter. Instead, it is reimagining the character’s future.
Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein are reportedly directing the project. A former Venom star will participate in some capacity, though the exact role remains undisclosed.
This development follows a broader strategic reset. In late 2024, reports surfaced that Sony had reevaluated its Spider-Man-adjacent universe after several villain-focused films struggled to match the financial success of the original Venom, which grossed over $856 million worldwide.
Rather than chase diminishing returns, Sony appears to be shifting creative lanes.
Why the Next Installment Makes Sense
Sony’s track record in animation speaks for itself. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its sequel earned acclaim for pushing visual boundaries and redefining superhero storytelling.
Meanwhile, live-action spin-offs faced more turbulence.
As Sony prepares to release Spider-Man: Brand New Day later this year and anticipates Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse on June 18, 2027, animation remains a strong pillar of the studio’s Marvel strategy.
Sony Pictures Animation has also delivered projects like K-pop Demon Hunters and GOAT, reinforcing its credibility in the medium. Moving Venom into that creative ecosystem allows the character to explore darker or more stylized storytelling without the constraints of live-action production.
The Unanswered Questions
Even with development underway, critical details remain unclear. Will Tom Hardy reprise his role in voice form? How closely will this animated film connect to Sony’s broader Spider-Man universe?
Sony has not released casting specifics, story outlines, or a projected release date. For now, the film exists as a confirmed project in development.
The Future of Venom
Sony could have shelved Venom after three films. Instead, it chose reinvention.
Animation offers flexibility. It taps into a proven creative strength. And it gives Venom room to evolve beyond the structure that defined his first three outings.
The symbiote saga hasn’t ended. It has simply changed shape. If Sony executes this pivot well, Venom’s next chapter may feel less like a continuation—and more like a rebirth.
