Report: Sony Expands ‘Venom’ Franchise With Next Film in Development

For a moment, it really did feel like Venom had taken his final bow. After Venom: The Last Dance (2024), many fans assumed Sony had closed the book on Eddie Brock’s chaotic partnership with the alien symbiote. The marketing hinted at finality. The tone felt conclusive. And the studio stayed quiet.

That silence didn’t last.

A new Venom project is officially in development, but it won’t look anything like the trilogy that came before it. Instead of doubling down on live-action spectacle, Sony is shifting gears. This time, Venom is heading into something entirely new.

That change alone signals something bigger than a standard sequel. It suggests a strategy.

How We Got Here

Before talking about what’s next, it’s worth remembering how strong this franchise started. Tom Hardy launched the series with Venom (2018), a movie that critics debated but audiences embraced. Hardy’s physical performance and comedic timing gave the character personality, and the film turned into a massive global success.

Sony followed up with Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), which leaned harder into the absurdity and humor that defined the first entry. Hardy returned with even more commitment, cementing Venom as one of Sony’s most bankable Marvel characters outside of Spider-Man.

Then came Venom: The Last Dance (2024). The title alone implied closure. Viewers walked in wondering whether Eddie Brock’s story was finally ending. Many walked out thinking it had.

That uncertainty lingered. Would Sony reboot? Would Hardy step away? Would the character quietly fade?

Now we know the answer. Sony isn’t finished.

An Update On the Next Venom Film

According to reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, the next Venom project will be fully animated. Sony is not simply producing another live-action installment. Instead, the studio is reinventing the format entirely.

Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the filmmakers behind Final Destination: Bloodlines, are reportedly directing the project. A former Venom star is also said to be involved in some capacity, though the specifics remain unclear.

This move follows a period of recalibration for Sony’s Spider-Man-adjacent universe. In December 2024, reports indicated that the studio was reassessing its approach after several villain-centered spin-offs failed to replicate the success of the original Venom, which earned over $856 million worldwide.

Rather than repeating the same formula, Sony appears ready to try something new.

Learning From What Worked

Sony’s Marvel strategy has always looked different from Marvel Studios’ approach. The company lends Spider-Man to Marvel Studios for the Tom Holland-led films, but it handles the rest of its Marvel properties independently.

That independence has produced mixed results. Some entries struggled critically and commercially. But the Spider-Verse films proved that Sony can thrive in animation. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its sequel redefined superhero animation and earned widespread praise.

So when Venom: The Last Dance and Kraven the Hunter failed to ignite lasting momentum in 2024, animation likely felt like the clearest path forward.

Sony Pictures Animation has built a strong reputation in recent years. Alongside its Spider-Man films, the studio delivered projects like K-pop Demon Hunters and GOAT. Shifting Venom into that creative space could allow the character to evolve in bold new ways.

What We Still Don’t Know

Plenty of questions remain. It’s unclear how deeply Tom Hardy will be involved. It’s also uncertain whether this animated film connects to Sony’s broader Spider-Man universe, sometimes referred to as the SSMU.

Sony has not shared plot details, casting updates, or a release timeline. For now, the project is simply in development.

A Strategic Reinvention

Sony could have walked away from Venom after three films. Instead, the studio chose reinvention.

By embracing animation, Sony positions Venom within its strongest creative lane. The move taps into the Spider-Verse brand’s goodwill while giving the character fresh life.

Venom’s story didn’t end. It’s evolving. And if this animated gamble pays off, it could reshape the franchise in ways no one expected.