Fresh off the heels of a trailer leak at Cinema Con in Las Vegas (that one big trade site was bold enough to post), Sony Pictures has revealed the first official trailer for “Venom.” Personally, I don’t know what to make of this film. It stars an excellent cast of Tom Hardy (“Mad Max Fury Road“) in the lead role as Venom and Eddie Brock and Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze and Reid Scott co-star. Those first three names are some heavyweights and clearly, Sony is incredibly serious about putting some firepower behind the film.
But “Venom” is such a weird character—a Spider-Man character that infamously ruined Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3” (the director admitted years later to hating the character). Moreover, whether that be the case or not, “Venom” there’s been conflicting reports whether “Venom” belongs Spiderverse that includes Tom Holland in the Marvel Universe. Marvel Feige has said, no, he’s not connected to the MCU. Sony’s Amy Pascal has said, yes, they’re connected. One would hope they are, as what’s Venom without Spider-Man? There’s not much of a synopsis, but here it is:
One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award® nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom.
Clearly, the character will have turned some kind of tough antagonist (the tagline is “embrace your inner anti-hero)”. Written by Scott Rosenberg & Jeff Pinkner and Kelly Marcel and Will Beall (“Gangster Squad” and once a writer on an early version of “Justice League” ages ago). The real outlier here and one that doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence obviously is director Ruben Fleischer Who showed promise after “Zombieland” but quickly eroded that goodwill with “30 Minutes or Less” and “Gangster Squad.” Perhaps he’s due for a return to form, but “Venom” seems like an odd choice.
Due in theaters later this year on October 5, “Venom” is Sony Pictures first salvo in trying to bring back their own superhero universe after the failed attempts of Marc Webb-directed “Amazing Spider-Man” series. It’s a strange backdoor into the Spider-Man universe if the interconnectivity is true, but it’s obviously a gamble Sony is willing to pull off. Watch the first official trailer and tell us what you think.
