Everything we know about Venom: The Last Dance
Settle in for another symbiote sequel
Tom Hardy is set to reprise his role as gruff reporter turned gruffer alien symbiote creature in Venom: The Last Dance.
The threequel, also known as Venom 3, fits into a wider overall plan from Sony’s own spin-off Spider-Man universe. This alternate storyline has so far favoured villains or anti-heroes over traditional do-gooders, with Reuben Fleischer’s original Venom kicking things off in 2018, followed by Andy Serkis’ Let There Be Carnage sequel in 2021 and Daniel Espinosa’s Morbius in 2022.
Read more: Every upcoming Spider-Man film
Another Sony superhero outing, SJ Clarkson’s Madame Web, was released in February 2024. Looking ahead, the studio has even more comic book action in store, with the Aaron Taylor Johnson-fronted Kraven The Hunter set to pounce in late August.
But what will Venom: The Last Dance entail? Read on to discover everything we know about the film so far.
When will Venom: The Last Dance be released?
Venom: The Last Dance will be swinging into cinemas on Friday, 25 October.
It was initially due to premiere during the height of the summer blockbuster season on Friday, 12 July — but was later delayed due to the fallout from the Hollywood strikes, finding a new home on Friday, 8 November before being moved up again to October.
Filming for the movie began in June 2023 but was forced to halt shortly after thanks to the Hollywood strikes. Cameras started rolling again in November 2023.
Is there a trailer for Venom: The Last Dance?
The first trailer for Venom: The Last Dance burst online in early June and wasted no time turning the action all the way up to 11 as we reteam with Eddie Brock and his symbiote pal.
Watch it below:
Who is in the Venom: The Last Dance cast?
As previously mentioned, Hardy will once again slip into the slimy symbiote suit to play (or at least voice) Venom and his human counterpart, Eddie Brock.
He’ll be directed by screenwriter-turned-filmmaker Kelly Marcel who makes her feature film debut on Venom: The Last Dance after co-writing part one and writing all of part two. Marcel and Hardy penned the script for the threequel together.
In addition to Hardy returning, we also know that Ted Lasso star Juno Temple will be joining the franchise in a leading role which is currently being kept under wraps. Meanwhile, Doctor Strange’s Mordo Chiwetel Ejiofor will also star but it’s unclear what his role will entail.
That said, judging by the film's first trailer, it looks like both stars will play characters who are hunting Venom.
Meanwhile, Boiling Point's Stephen Graham will play the film's big-bad Patrick Mulligan, a detective who has his own symbiote secret named Toxin. Peggy Lu will also be back as convenience store owner Mrs Chen with Alana Ubach and Clark Backo appearing in an as-yet-undisclosed roles.
As it stands, it’s still unknown as to whether Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man may play a part in Venom: The Last Dance following his crossover tease at the end of the last movie.
What is the plot of Venom: The Last Dance?
According to the film's official synopsis, Venom: The Last Dance will find Eddie and Venom on the run.
"Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance," says Sony Pictures UK.
For those unfamiliar with the franchise so far, let us fill you in on what you’ve missed.
Hardy’s Brock is an investigative journalist who stumbles upon a gooey sentient alien that uses him as its ‘host’ and imbues him with violent, superhuman abilities and an unquenchable hunger for bad guys.
Fleischer’s first film set up the world, introducing us to Brock and his ex-fiancée Anne Weying, played by Michelle Williams, and Riz Ahmed’s villainous Carlton Drake AKA Riot, a rival symbiote hellbent on destroying Earth.
In Serkis’ sequel, Sony takes a step closer to Marvel’s mainline Spider-Man universe by introducing us to Woody Harrelson’s Cleetus Kasady, better known to comic fans as cult-fave character Carnage.
Serkis also dips the franchise’s toes into the multiverse playground, setting things up nicely for a potential future crossover with Holland’s Peter Parker and the mainline MCU’s current Spider-Man.
Sadly, that’s all the Venom knowledge we have at the moment. When it comes to Venom: The Last Dance, information about what it may have in store is being kept close to the character’s gooey chest.
That said, we do know that this will be Hardy’s final stint in the symbiote suit having previously called the character’s “last dance” via a gif posted to his Instagram account — hey, that’s the movie’s name.
Venom: The Last Dance will be released in cinemas on Friday, 25 October
