Movies - Venom: The Last Dance—A Closer Look at the Final Chapter of the Venom Trilogy

By Mulder, 22 october 2024

Venom: The Last Dance marks a significant milestone as it concludes Sony's standalone Venom trilogy within its Spider-Man Universe (SSU). Helmed by writer and director Kelly Marcel, the film features Tom Hardy reprising his dual role as Eddie Brock and Venom, alongside a star-studded cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, and Andy Serkis.

The journey towards Venom: The Last Dance began as early as 2018 when Hardy expressed interest in a third Venom film. Following the successful releases of Venom (2018) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), Sony greenlit the final installment, officially putting the film into development by December 2021. Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote the first two films with Hardy, took on the mantle of both screenwriter and director, making her directorial debut. By mid-2023, filming was underway in Spain, though it was briefly interrupted due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, resuming in November and finishing early in 2024.

The cast grew to include newcomers to the SSU such as Ejiofor, playing Rex Strickland, and Juno Temple in a significant role. Marvel fans may recognize Rhys Ifans, who appeared as Curt Connors / Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man: No Way Home. With these actors' roles, the film adds nods to other Marvel multiverse characters, although it’s not explicitly tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Venom: The Last Dance dives deeper into the world of symbiotes with the introduction of Knull, a character revered in the Marvel comics as the King in Black. This addition introduces a mythic layer to Venom’s universe. The filmmakers had long held off introducing Knull, preferring to first establish Venom’s character and his relationship with Eddie Brock. By drawing inspiration from classic Venom comics by writers like Donny Cates, the team laid the groundwork for a satisfying and complex finale to the trilogy.

Production commenced in June 2023 with filming locations set in Cartagena, Spain, notably the scenic Calblanque Regional Park. However, the onset of the 2023 actors' strike brought filming to a halt just weeks in, pushing back release dates initially planned for July 2024. After a monthslong pause, production resumed in November and was completed by early February 2024.

The film’s visual aesthetic benefits from the expertise of veteran cinematographer Fabian Wagner, with visual effects by leading studios like Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and DNEG. The effects team, guided by supervisors John Moffatt and Aharon Bourland, crafted an immersive, darkly captivating experience that leans heavily into the eerie and chaotic world Venom inhabits.

The film premiered at New York’s Regal Times Square on October 21, 2024, hitting U.S. theaters on October 25. Despite its widespread anticipation, Venom: The Last Dance opened to a mixed critical reception. Rotten Tomatoes reported that only 36% of critics gave the film positive reviews, while the film received a weighted score of 41 on Metacritic. On CinemaScore, audiences rated the film a B-, marking it as the least favored of the trilogy, though PostTrak surveys rated it at 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Globally, Venom: The Last Dance grossed $94.8 million in its first weekend, including $22 million from the United States and Canada and $72.8 million internationally. Although it opened strongly with $8.5 million from Thursday previews, Sony has a steep profit target, needing the film to gross between $450–500 million to be considered a financial success. With an IMAX and premium format release, the studio aimed to maximize box office returns, capitalizing on loyal Venom fans and Marvel enthusiasts alike.

Despite the trilogy’s conclusion, Tom Hardy hinted at future possibilities for Eddie Brock and Venom, with crossovers between Sony’s SSU and Marvel’s MCU being a long-anticipated move. The appearance of Knull in The Last Dance lays a new foundation within the SSU, opening the door for broader storylines and new symbiotic characters.

In a unique deal struck with Netflix and Disney, the film will eventually be available on both streaming platforms after its theatrical run, allowing broader access for fans beyond its box office life. Netflix holds exclusive rights to stream the SSU’s pay 1 window, while Disney+ and Hulu will stream the film later in the pay 2 window, further expanding the reach of Venom’s story.

Venom: The Last Dance not only wraps up Eddie Brock’s journey with the symbiote but also signals Sony's continued ambition to expand its Spider-Man Universe. With strong fan interest in a crossover with Spider-Man, audiences may yet see Hardy’s Venom clash with the web-slinger. For now, this third installment cements Venom’s place as one of Sony’s most daring explorations into the anti-hero’s domain, a world shrouded in darkness, myth, and symbiotic fury.

itw Rhys Ifans

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itw Kelly Marcel And Tom Hardy

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itw Juno Temple And Chiwetel Ejiofor

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itw Chiwetel Ejiofor

Synopsis :
Eddie and Venom are on the run. Each is hunted by his own kind, and as the noose tightens, the duo must make a devastating decision that heralds the conclusion of Eddie and Venom's adventures.

Venom: The Last Dance
Written and directed by Kelly Marcel
Story by Tom Hardy, Kelly Marcel
Based on Marvel Comics
Produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy, Hutch Parker
Starring Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach, Andy Serkis
Cinematography : Fabian Wagner
Edited by Mark Sanger
Music by Dan Deacon
Production companies : Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, Arad Productions, Matt Tolmach Productions, Pascal Pictures, TSG Entertainment, Hutch Parker Entertainment, Hardy Son & Baker
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates : October 21, 2024 (New York City), October 23, 2024 (United States), October 21, 2024 (France)
Running time : 109 minutes