Venom (film)

## Chronology

*"Everyone's got their thing. Maybe it's a break up. A death. An accident. Whatever it is, you used to be one thing. Now, you're something else. We all have our own problems. Our own issues. Our own... demons."*
―Eddie Brock
***Venom*** is a 2018 American superhero film based on the eponymous Marvel Comics anti-heroes Eddie Brock and Venom by proxy. Produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel Entertainment, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, *Venom* is the first film in its own film series, part of the wider Sony's Spider-Man Universe, and was released on October 15, 2018 in the United States.

The film was directed by Ruben Fleischer and stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom, Michelle Williams as Anne Weying/She-Venom, Riz Ahmed as Carlton Drake/Riot, Scott Haze as Security Chief Roland Treece, Reid Scott as Dan Lewis, Jenny Slate as Dora Skirth and Melora Walters as Maria.

The film spawned two sequels; *Venom: Let There Be Carnage* in 2021, and an untitled third film set for release in 2024.

## Synopsis

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a broken man after he loses everything including his job and fiancée. Just when his life is at its lowest, he becomes host to an alien symbiote which results in extraordinary superpowers - transforming him into Venom. Will these powers be enough for this new lethal protector to defeat great evil forces, especially against the far stronger and more weaponized symbiote rival, Riot?

## Plot

During an exploration of space in search of new habitable planets, a probe owned by the bio-engineering firm Life Foundation makes a significant discovery: a comet teeming with symbiotic life forms. Returning to Earth with four samples, the probe faces a mishap as one of the symbiotes escapes, causing a crash landing in Malaysia. While the Life Foundation recovers the remaining three samples, they transport them to their research facility situated in San Francisco, California. There, they uncover a crucial fact: these symbiotes cannot thrive without hosts capable of breathing oxygen, a relationship that often ends fatally due to symbiotic rejection. Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist, comes across classified information regarding these controversial human experiments, which is held by his fiancée Anne Weying, an attorney preparing a legal defense for the Life Foundation. Eddie confronts the CEO of the Life Foundation, Carlton Drake, about these trials, resulting in both Eddie and Anne losing their jobs and Anne subsequently terminating their engagement.

Fast forward six months, and Drake's experiments with symbiosis are making progress, although one of the symbiotes meets its demise due to negligence. Dora Skirth, one of Drake's scientists who disagrees with his methods, approaches Eddie. She aims to expose Drake's actions and assists Eddie in infiltrating the research facility to gather evidence. During this mission, Eddie learns that a homeless woman named Maria, an acquaintance of his, is one of the test subjects. While Eddie tries to save Maria, the symbiote within her unknowingly transfers to Eddie's body, resulting in her death. Eddie escapes but soon experiences peculiar symptoms. He seeks Anne's help, who is now in a relationship with doctor Dan Lewis. Through an examination, Dan discovers the symbiote within Eddie. Drake exposes Skirth to the remaining captive symbiote, leading to their deaths. This leaves the symbiote inside Eddie as the sole surviving specimen.

Drake dispatches mercenaries to retrieve the symbiote from Eddie, but it manifests around Eddie's body, transforming into a monstrous creature that repels the attackers. This creature introduces itself to Eddie as Venom, revealing that the comet's purpose is to locate planets where the symbiotes can take over and consume the inhabitants. Venom proposes a deal: spare Eddie's life if he aids the symbiotes in fulfilling their objective. Eddie starts to relish the enhanced abilities granted by the symbiote. He breaks into his former workplace to expose Drake's wrongdoings but finds himself surrounded by SWAT officers, forcing him to transform in order to escape. Anne witnesses this transformation and takes Eddie to Dan's office, where they learn that the symbiote is progressively damaging Eddie's internal organs. Eddie realizes the symbiote's weaknesses: sensitivity to high-pitched noises and fire. While Venom insists that the organ damage can be prevented, Anne employs an MRI machine to assist Eddie in separating from the symbiote. Unfortunately, Eddie is captured by Drake's men.

Meanwhile, the fourth symbiote, Riot, travels from Malaysia to San Francisco by transferring between bodies. It bonds with Drake, who agrees to take Riot aboard a Life Foundation space probe to gather the remaining symbiotes and bring them to Earth. Anne reluctantly merges with Venom to free Eddie. Upon Eddie and Venom's reunion, Venom expresses a newfound dedication to safeguarding Earth, leading them to collaborate with Anne in order to thwart Riot and Drake. Venom sabotages the launch of the probe, resulting in an explosion that eliminates Riot and Drake. Anne believes that Venom has perished, and Eddie is no longer linked to the symbiote. However, the truth is that they remain secretly bonded and committed to protecting San Francisco by targeting criminals.

Eddie resumes his journalism career, and in a mid-credits scene, he receives an invitation to interview incarcerated serial killer Cletus Kasady, who ominously promises "carnage" upon his eventual escape.

## Cast

* Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom: An investigative journalist who underwent a transformation into the host of Venom, an extraterrestrial symbiote that grants him extraordinary abilities. Director Ruben Fleischer noted that unlike traditional werewolf or Jekyll and Hyde scenarios, the dynamic between Eddie and the symbiote is a "hybrid," where they coexist within the same body and collaborate. This symbiotic relationship intrigued Tom Hardy, who likened their interaction to the animated duo Ren and Stimpy. Hardy adopted an "aw-shucks American accent" for Eddie, while giving Venom a voice reminiscent of a "James Brown lounge lizard", later adjusted to exude a more menacing tone. Hardy depicted Eddie as an antihero willing to take any measures necessary to achieve his objectives. To enhance Venom's auditory experience, Brad Venable contributed additional voice work for Venom's expressions of pain and exertion, and his voice was blended with Hardy's for specific lines, including the iconic "We are Venom."
* Michelle Williams as Anne Weying/She-Venom: An attorney who also happens to be Eddie's former fiancée. Michelle Williams expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of her character eventually assuming the role of She-Venom, a transformation that occurs in the comics. Director Ruben Fleischer found it intriguing to incorporate an Easter Egg for fans by briefly depicting the character hosting the symbiote in a scene within the film. This reveal was kept under wraps until the movie's release, with Fleischer hopeful that the positive reception to this glimpse would pave the way for more She-Venom appearances in forthcoming *Venom* films, or perhaps even a dedicated *She-Venom* standalone movie. In one notable line, Anne declares, "I love you, but I love myself more," a statement introduced by Michelle Williams as a nod to the MeToo movement, adding a contemporary layer of meaning to the character's dialogue.
* Riz Ahmed as Dr. Carlton Drake/Riot: An exceptional inventor with a brilliant mind who also holds the reins of the Life Foundation, an organization engaged in groundbreaking experiments involving symbiotes. Riz Ahmed, who portrays the character, elucidated that Carlton Drake's motivations are rooted in an endeavor to secure the future of humanity, a noble quest that eventually unveils the existence of the symbiotes. Fleischer added depth to the character by revealing that although Drake's aspirations are altruistic, he grapples with a "moral ambiguity" that drives him to test his scientific breakthrough on unwitting subjects. As the narrative unfolds, Drake bonds with another symbiote known as Riot. Fleischer depicted Riot as a "body-hopper", indicating its unique ability to transfer from one host to another, thus underscoring the dynamic and unpredictable nature of this malevolent entity.
* Scott Haze as Security Chief Roland Treece: The chief of security in Drake's organization.
* Reid Scott as Dr. Dan Lewis: The romantic partner of Anne, who is a doctor striving to assist Eddie.
* Jenny Slate as Dr. Dora Skirth
* Melora Walters as Maria/She-Venom
* Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady
* Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen
* Jared Bankens as Isaac/Blue
* Zeva DuVall as Suzy/Riot (voice)
* Martin Bradford as Jacob/Blue

## Appearances

### Locations

* Multiverse
	+ Earth-688B
		- Earth
			* Sibu, Malaysia
				+ Borneo Forrest Reserve
			* San Francisco, California
				+ Life Foundation Headquarters
				+ Hotel Schueller\*\*\*\*\*\*Eddie Brock's Apartment
				+ MNBN Station
				+ Anne Weying's House
				+ Micheline and McFarland Law Office
				+ Rockefeller
				+ Jack's Bar
				+ Mrs. Chen's Store
			* California
				+ San Francisco International Airport
				+ San Quentin State Prison
			* Oakland, California
			* San Mateo, California
				+ San Mateo Landfill
			* Hong Kong, China
			* New York City, New York (mentioned)
			* Silicon Valley, California (mentioned)
			* Berkeley University (mentioned)
			* Brown University (mentioned)
			* Massachusetts Institute of Technology
		- Klyntar (mentioned)

### Items

* *The Eddie Brock Report*
* Vial
* Life Foundation Drones

### Vehicles

* Eddie Brock's Motorcycle
* LF1

### Sentient Species

* Humans
* Symbiotes

### Creatures

* Dogs
	+ Gemini

### Organizations

* Life Foundation
* MNBN
* Micheline and McFarland
* San Francisco Police Department
* *Chronicle*
* *Weekly*
* Weber-Clark Consolidation Services
* *Daily Globe* (mentioned)

### Mentioned

* Anne Weying's mother
* Jamie Brock
* Lee Taglin
* Sarah Chambers
* Phillip Barclay
* Robert MacDonald
* Barney Bushkin
* Dora Skirth's children
* Chen's cousin

## Production

### Development

1997; David S. Goyer had created a screenplay for a film featuring the Marvel Comics character Venom, intended for production at New Line Cinema. Discussions were ongoing with Dolph Lundgren for the lead role, and the character Carnage was envisioned as the main antagonist. However, the project did not progress, resulting in the transfer of character rights to Sony Pictures, which also gained the rights for Spider-Man, a character for whom Venom serves as an antagonist in the comics.

Eddie Brock, the alter ego of Venom, later appeared in Sony's *Spider-Man 3*, portrayed by Topher Grace. Initially meant for a brief appearance, Grace's portrayal evolved into a significant villainous role as both Eddie and Venom. This shift stemmed from producer Avi Arad's belief that the series had overly relied on director Sam Raimi's favored Spider-Man villains, neglecting characters that would resonate more with modern audiences. Raimi had reservations about exploring the character due to its "lack of humanity."

In July 2007, Arad revealed plans for a standalone *Venom* film. Sony concurrently pursued development of the Venom project alongside direct sequels to *Spider-Man 3*, aiming to inject "new longevity" into the franchise similar to the success of Wolverine in 20th Century Fox's *X-Men* films. However, uncertainties arose around Topher Grace's suitability for the lead role. Subsequently, in September of the same year, Sony enlisted the talents of Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese to craft a fresh script. This decision was influenced by industry insiders' suggestions that Grace should return, emphasizing his potential to portray a sympathetic antagonist. Wernick and Reese pitched an original concept for the film, envisioning a more realistic and darker take on the character. Collaborating with Sony and Marvel, the writers developed an outline adhering to specific guidelines for the villain's backstory.

In April 2009, Wernick and Reese completed a draft, which even included a role tailored for Stan Lee. The script featured a sequence where the Venom symbiote transfers between individuals, resulting in increased aggression and violence. This process continued through iterations, with a second draft submitted in September 2009. Despite these developments, the project encountered numerous changes, including the involvement of Gary Ross in rewriting the script and assuming directorial and production roles.

Sony's plans took another turn in January 2010, as they announced a reboot of the *Spider-Man* franchise, leading to further adjustments in the *Venom* project's direction. Over the years, various creative teams were attached, proposing different approaches for the film. These included the idea of Venom as an antihero defending the innocent, while also exploring connections to the *The Amazing Spider-Man* series.

In 2013, Sony unveiled plans to establish an expanded universe centered around Marvel properties under their control. Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Ed Solomon were set to write the screenplay for *Venom*, with Kurtzman slated to direct. However, the mixed reception of *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* prompted a reevaluation of Sony's shared universe ambitions. Release schedules shifted, and the *Venom* film, now known as *Venom Carnage*, was rescheduled to precede *The Amazing Spider-Man 3*.

Then, Sony and Marvel Studios entered a partnership by 2015, leading to the integration of Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This development caused uncertainty around Sony's spin-off projects, and by November, it was speculated that they had been abandoned in favor of the collaborative reboot efforts.

*Venom* was reinvigorated by Sony in March 2016, with Arad and Matt Tolmach overseeing production, and Dante Harper crafting a fresh screenplay. The vision for the project was to create a standalone film that would serve as the cornerstone of its own franchise, separate from the new *Spider-Man* films produced by Sony and Marvel Studios. A year later, Sony designated October 5, 2018 as the release date for the film. It was clarified that Kurtzman was not associated with this new endeavor, and Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner were now tasked with writing the screenplay.

*Venom* was anticipated to inaugurate a distinct shared universe, independent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Initially, the film aimed for an R-rating and a more modest budget, drawing inspiration from the success of 20th Century's *X-Men* films, *Deadpool* and *Logan* that followed a similar approach. Sony's list of potential directors for the film reportedly included Adi Shankar, recognized for his dark and R-rated reinterpretations of cherished properties, and Adam Wingard.

In May, Sony revealed that Tom Hardy would assume the role of Eddie Brock and Venom in the film titled *Venom*, to be directed by Ruben Fleischer. This announcement marked the official launch of a new shared universe, later referred to as "*Sony's Spider-Man Universe*." Fleischer was selected following an extensive search by Sony. As a longtime admirer of the character, he expressed enthusiasm for exploring the visual potential and thematic complexities associated with portraying Venom on the big screen, including the notion of duality.

David F. Sandberg had engaged in discussions with Sony about potentially directing the film. He had reviewed the script and held meetings with the studio. However, Sandberg had already been approached by Warner Bros. to helm Shazam! (2019) and chose to prioritize that project due to his familiarity with the crew from his time at New Line Cinema.

Tom Hardy's casting as Eddie Brock and Venom materialized swiftly, soon after his departure from director J. C. Chandor's Triple Frontier in April. Sony recognized an opportunity to attract a sought-after talent. Hardy's involvement in the film was compensated with a payment of $7 million.

## References

1. ↑ VENOM | Sony Pictures Entertainment
2. ↑ Tom Hardy to Star in ‘Venom,’ Ruben Fleischer to Direct
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tom Hardy Presents New ‘Venom’ Trailer At CinemaCon – Watch
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 New 'Venom' Footage Reveals Riot, Promises a Film with No Heroes
5. ↑ *Venom*: How Tom Hardy transformed himself into a sharp-toothed, slobbering symbiote
6. ↑ Comedy, horror and an unmasked Tom Hardy: How ‘Venom’s’ director built a fresh ‘Spider-Man’ spinoff
7. ↑ Venom's Voice Is Changing in the Upcoming Sequel — and Not for the Reason You'd Think
8. ↑ Replacing Kevin Spacey on ‘All the Money in the World’ Will Cost Millions
9. ↑ Michelle Williams Is Definitely Playing Anne Weying in Venom
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Director Ruben Fleischer on 'Venom', Carnage, and Tom Hardy's Insane Performance
11. ↑ Why Michelle Williams Said Yes to ‘Venom’
12. ↑ Sope Aluko Cast In ‘Venom’; Andreja Pejić Joins ‘The Girl In The Spider’s Web’; James Trevena-Brown In ‘Charlie Says’
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Untold Truth Of Venom
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 The History of Unmade Venom Movies
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Comic-Con 2006: Spider-Man 3
16. ↑ Exclusive Interview: OUT WITH THE VULTURE & IN WITH VENOM: GRANT CURTIS SPIDER-MAN 3 PRODUCER- PART 4
17. ↑ Avi Arad Wanted Venom In Spiderman 3
18. ↑ Exclusive Interview: Avi Arad for "Bratz"
19. ↑ Sony may spin Spidey foe ‘Venom’