British actor/rapper Riz Ahmed has exploded lately with roles in high profile projects like Nightcrawler, The Night Of, and Rogue One. He was recently in the mix for the Aladdin role but ended up passing.
There’s now word from the HollywoodReporter that he’s now in talks for an undisclosed part in Sony’s Venom (aka Antidote) starring Tom Hardy (Eddie Brock).
Ahmed’s character is being kept under wraps, but insiders say he would not be playing the villain Carnage, which Sony has been looking to cast. Sources say he was considered for the role before script changes were made.
The trade points out he was once considered for the main villain role of Carnage, but it’s now said he’s taking another role in the film. (Now being refuted by other outlets)
UPDATE #1: Variety says Matt Smith, Pedro Pascal, and Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts are also in the mix for the part. Schoenaerts previously worked with Tom Hardy in the film The Drop.
Sources say Matt Smith, Pedro Pascal and Mathias Schoenarts also up for the part https://t.co/rbMCY0Quwn
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) August 10, 2017
UPDATE #2: TrackingBoard suggests Riz might take the Carnage role after all.
UPDATED the VENOM story. Sources are torn on Riz’s role, but one I trust insists it’s Carnage, which Riz is believed to have auditioned for.
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) August 10, 2017
His role is being kept under wraps but we already know there will be two symbiotes in the film, with a possible third with the role of Anne Weying (confirmed via audition tape) aka She-Venom in the mix too. Could Riz be taking the role of someone like Anti-Venom or Toxin?
Toxin is the spawn of Carnage like Carnage is the spawn of Venom. He bonds with Patrick Mulligan a former cop. Anti-Venom is the twin brother of Venom, that also bonds with Brock. Combining the two characters into a single threat could be worthwhile since Anti-Venom has the more interesting design. Anti-Venom (see above) is the twin brother of Venom, that also bonds with Brock. Combining the two characters into a single threat could be worthwhile since Anti-Venom has the more interesting design.
Production takes place on September 1st in Atlanta, then an undisclosed amount of time in New York City. Venom’s release date has been set for October 5th, 2018.
SOURCE: THR