Everybody’s favorite webslinger is swinging into theaters this summer with director Mark Webb’s ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ from Sony Pictures. And, if early reports are true, there may be another slightly more vicious webslinger hot on his trail. The long-rumored ‘Venom’ movie is now allegedly back on track.
The L.A. Times reports today that “a person familiar with the project who was not authorized to talk about it publicly” has told them that Sony is in talks with Josh Trank to take the helm on a ‘Venom’ picture. Trank is in the hot seat right now after the release of his found-footage movie ‘Chronicle’. That movie, about teenagers gaining super-powers, ended up making more than $60 million, despite having no major star power and a pretty meager budget.
If the reports are true, it’s perfect timing for a ‘Venom’ movie to release since 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the character’s first appearance back in ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #300. The idea of a ‘Venom’ movie has been has been tossed around for the last several years, with the original plans being for Gary Ross to direct back in 2009. Of course, after the fan backlash at Topher Grace’s Venom in Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man 3’, it all fell apart and Ross went on to other projects, most notably the upcoming ‘The Hunger Games’.
At this point, there’s no word yet on whether a new ‘Venom’ movie would be tied into the new ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ film franchise, but seeing as Venom’s entire origin is based around Spidey, I don’t see how it can be done otherwise. But since there’s no indication on any front that Venom, or even the symbiote from which the character is eventually formed, will appear in ‘Amazing Spider-Man’, that leaves us wondering… what version of Venom will Sony use?
Personally, I’d like to see a version of the current Flash Thompson Venom. He’s a badass military black-ops agent that wears an alien suit that turns into a monster if he loses control of his temper. With a good screenwriter, that story could possibly be done without a Spider-Man tie-in.
What do you think? Would you like to see Venom on the big screen? I mean… a proper Venom? (I don’t count the Topher Grace version as anything remotely nearing proper.) Comment below and let us know.
