The Venom film franchise has been a success for Sony. With the release of the third film, Venom: The Last Dance, speculation has grown regarding the series’ future. Fans are wondering what might come next for the character and if a fourth installment is possible.
The Official Status of a Fourth Film
Sony Pictures has not officially confirmed that a fourth Venom movie is in development. The title of the third film, Venom: The Last Dance, has fueled conversation that it is the franchise’s conclusion, functioning as the finale to a trilogy. Despite this, the door for future installments has not been completely closed.
The commercial performance of The Last Dance will be a significant factor, as the previous films were box office successes. Tom Hardy has expressed a willingness to return, though he has also referred to The Last Dance as the “last in the trilogy and done.” Director Kelly Marcel confirmed the film was designed to wrap up Eddie and Venom’s three-movie arc, but also noted there are many more symbiote stories from the comics to tell.
Potential Plot Directions
A fourth film could branch in several directions. The introduction of the symbiote creator, Knull, in The Last Dance presents a cosmic threat. Director Kelly Marcel stated the film is an introduction for the character, suggesting larger plans for him as a major antagonist in Sony’s universe, potentially akin to a Thanos-level figure.
The third film also concluded with the Venom symbiote surviving after being separated from Eddie Brock. This opens the possibility of the symbiote finding a new host. One rumor suggests the franchise could pivot to an “Agent Venom” storyline, where Flash Thompson bonds with the symbiote as a government operative.
Another possibility involves other symbiotes, like Agony, who was introduced in The Last Dance. The return of Carnage is also a consideration, as his connection to the symbiote hive-mind in the comics allows for his resurrection. These avenues could allow the franchise to continue without Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock.
Connection to Spider-Man and the Multiverse
The most persistent fan demand for Venom’s future involves a direct confrontation with Spider-Man. The post-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home established a link by leaving a piece of the Venom symbiote in the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This creates a pathway for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to encounter his own version of the symbiote, separate from Tom Hardy’s character.
While The Last Dance was presented as the final film for Hardy’s trilogy, the actor has remained open to a crossover, stating a desire to “fight Spider-Man.” The logistics of bridging Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and the MCU remain complex, but the groundwork has been laid for a future meeting.
The introduction of Knull also carries multiversal implications. As a cosmic being, his threat could extend beyond the SSU and into the MCU, providing a narrative reason for Tom Hardy’s Venom to cross over. The possibility of an eventual team-up between Venom and Spider-Man to face this enemy remains a compelling direction for any future story.