Venom: Let There Be Carnagehad been hyped slightly more than usual for the possibility that Sony Pictures could start toying with the idea of using its prized ownership ofSpider-Manto boost the movie’s appeal, in fact, the trailer even included more than a couple of easter eggs that reference the world of Peter Parker. However, directorAndy Serkis dismissed any possibility ofSpider-ManjoiningEddie Brock to get rid of the dangerous Cletus Kasady, so what does this mean for Venom?
At first glance it would appear to be a non-event event for both Venom and Brock, after all, Tom Hardy’s draw was already appealing enough to make the first movie wildly successful, at least from a commercial standpoint. Hardy’s “chemistry” with his symbiote is really what makes Venom shine as the pair constantly engage in their own otherworldly banter that only the two are privy to, and overall hardly relying on Spider-Man references, at least not fromSpider-Manmovies since it mostly sticks with the Marvel Comics and other aspects surrounding the characters' origins.
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This is something thatVenom: Let There Be Carnageappears to be forgoing, at least judging from thetrailer that quite blatantly throws a Stan Leereference right at the viewers when Eddie enters Mrs. Chen’s store, or by the Daily Bugle’s existence in Brock’s San Francisco both in print and online editions. Most puzzlingly, this Daily Bugle is not like the modernized YouTuber style version seen throwing Peter Parker’s life into disarray inSpider-Man: Far From Home’spost-credits scene.
The deal here is thatSpider-Manappears to be both very absent and present inLet There Be Carnage, a strange decision that could end up backfiring considering the character won’t be used at all in the film. Eddie Brock’s stint in San Francisco in the comics tends to take place after being ousted from New York City due to varying circumstances, and although 2018’sVenomwent with a different course of action to back up that story, it holds up as justification to keepVenom’sworld completely detached from anything else Sony might be working on withSpider-ManorMorbius.
That decision was meant to pay off with a Venom that would be able to take a more mature approach in the movie’s tone to separate it from Tom Holland’s boyish Spider-Man, which is still at its heart infused with so many elements and humor that seem taken straight out of a teenage comedy. DespiteVenomstill shying away from an R rating the first time around, it’s clear that in their present form the two films are incompatible, even more so with the introduction of Carnage as a more psychopathic villain than anything else the MCU or Marvel as a whole could ever come up with.
All this becomes more confusing whenMorbiuskeeps teasing that same Daily Buglein a universe where Michael Keaton’s Vulture fromHomecomingis set to appear, even though all these worlds are not supposed to be connected at all. If it’s a case of fan service, then it risks depriving bothVenomandMorbiusof the chance to shine without Spider-Man’s own webbings to give the two films a little help, a gesture that Peter Parker certainly doesn’t need to make his own series of movies incredibly successful.
On the face of it, Brock and Venom’s roommate agreement, coupled with Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson’s villainous roles asShriek and Carnage should elevateVenomto a better place than it was left after the first film, especially considering the latter’s ability to make his mark in Marvel loreasVenom’sown answer to DC’s Joker. So is there really the need to take away from all these wonderful actors and characters by havingVenombe a constant showcase of possible Spider-Man references? Of course there isn’t. It’s completely unnecessary when the reason why easter eggs and cameos work so well in the MCU is precisely because they usually serve as foreshadowings to what will happen future.
If there is a shining light to this approach is that no matter how much Serkis dismisses any potential MCU links for now inVenom, that still does not mean a Spider-Man crossover won’t happen in the future. At this point, using established Marvel institutions like the Ravencroft facilities invites more speculation for what the future holds for these Sony-owned franchises, but then again, there’s a difference between Ravencroft being taken from the comics vs. anylinks to Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manuniverse.
At the end of the day, it’s quite likely thatVenom: Let There Be Carnagewill have all the makings of a huge box office hit by the time it releases in September, yet it’s amusing howinstead of addressing the first movie’s many problems, writers opt to focus on what would appear to be meaningless references to other Marvel properties. If Tom Hardy is already booked for a thirdVenommovie, then boosting his credentials as a soloVenomis a way to get him there, not relying on the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to save the day.
