Things are seemingly finally moving ahead for Sony’s Venom solo film as we recently learned that the film was back in development with new screenwriters and the studio was eyeing a fall production start.
Collider is now claiming that Sony is looking to take advantage of the success of Deadpool and Logan by shaping Venom for an R-rating. Doubling-down on the rumblings, that Venom will take place outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is extremely confusing and a little shortsighted on the part of producers.
We’re hearing that Sony is developing Venom not only as the film to launch their own Marvel Universe, but as an R-rated effort.
Let’s be clear: Sony’s Marvel Universe will not be connected to the MCU in any way (sorry, Guardians of the Galaxy fans, but a Venom crossover is highly dubious) and the planned Venom and Black Cat and Silver Sable films are all part of Sony’s own shared universe, not spin-offs of any existing films.
However, this report isn’t exactly concrete news and should be considered only rumor at this point until there is more formal confirmation or support from other outlets. Also, the film has yet to land a director and production won’t take place until the fall, a lot of things could happen between then and now.
Venom isn’t inherently an R-rated character but serial killer Cletus Kasady aka Carnage is, this could mean Sony might be looking to make him the big bad of the film. We wouldn’t be opposed to having an R-rated Venom movie, but this sounds like Sony desperate to break from Marvel and trying to copy the success of Fox’s recent X-Men box office success.
Keeping the producers and a writer from Amazing Spider-Man 2 for the spinoff is equally bizarre. Not to mention, Tom “bad idea” Rothman is also involved. I’m not terribly excited about the people involved here but only time will tell if this will be another lazy effort or breakout.
Venom has been slated for a release date of October 5th, 2018.
SOURCE: COLLIDER