Sony Pictures Develops Animated Venom Movie with ‘Final Destination’ Directors

Sony Pictures is moving forward with a new installment in its Venom franchise, but with a significant shift in direction. The studio is developing a fully animated Venom movie, departing from the live-action films starring Tom Hardy.

Creative Team and Production Details

Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the directors behind the recent horror film Final Destination: Bloodlines, are set to direct the animated feature. Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach, who produced the previous Venom films, are expected to be involved in the project. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Tom Hardy’s involvement is still being discussed, though his role – whether as a producer or voice actor – remains unclear.

Sony Pictures Animation will be assembling a writers’ room to develop the script and define the creative direction of the film. This suggests the project is in its early stages and will capture some time before reaching the big screen.

Venom’s History in Film and Comics

The character of Venom, created by writer Bill Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 in 1988 and quickly gained popularity. Wikipedia details the character’s evolution from a villain to an anti-hero. Venom made his first on-screen appearance in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 (2007), portrayed by Topher Grace.

Tom Hardy starred in three live-action Venom films: Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024). While the first film was a box office success, grossing $856 million globally, subsequent installments saw a decline in both financial performance and critical reception.

Strategic Shift to Animation

The move to animation may revitalize the franchise, potentially drawing inspiration from the success of Sony’s animated Spider-Verse films, which have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success. Lipovsky and Stein’s work on Final Destination: Bloodlines, which revitalized that franchise, positions them well for this project. They are also currently working on Gremlins with Chris Columbus and the thriller Long Lost.

This animated project represents Sony’s attempt to keep the Venom character relevant and explore a new visual style that could shape the future of the franchise.