Credit: Sony PicturesJust when it felt like the symbiote saga had quieted down, Sony made its next move. A fourth Venom film is officially on the way, and this time, the studio appears to be taking the franchise in a direction few fans expected.
After months of speculation about whether the Venom series would continue following its most recent chapter. While the studio has not unveiled a full slate of specifics, enough has surfaced to signal that this next chapter is more than just a routine sequel. It represents a pivot.
Marvel fans have been watching Sony’s Spider-Man-adjacent universe closely, especially after a rocky stretch of releases. Now that confirmation of another Venom project is in development, attention has quickly shifted to what form it will take and how it fits into Sony’s broader strategy.
Before diving into what’s next, it helps to look back at how we got here.
Venom So Far
Tom Hardy’s run as Eddie Brock began with Venom (2018), a film that divided critics but drew massive box office numbers. Audiences embraced Hardy’s chaotic, odd-couple chemistry with the alien symbiote, turning the movie into a global hit.
That momentum carried into Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), which doubled down on the absurdity and leaned harder into the dark humor that became the franchise’s identity. Hardy returned with even more physicality and commitment, helping solidify Venom as one of Sony’s biggest standalone Marvel properties outside of Spider-Man himself.
Most recently, Venom: The Last Dance (2024) arrived with the weight of expectation. Fans weren’t just looking for another adventure. They wanted clarity. Was this the end? Would Eddie Brock’s story conclude here? The marketing suggested finality, and many viewers walked away believing the saga had reached its closing chapter.
Since then, fans have waited for answers. Would Sony reboot? Would Hardy return? Would Venom fade quietly into the background while the studio regrouped?
Now, we have our answer. Sony is moving forward. But it’s doing so with a twist.
‘Venom 4’ Is In Development
Sony is bringing back Venom, but in an unexpected way. According to reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, the next Venom project will not be another live-action blockbuster. Instead, it will be fully animated.
The film is reportedly being developed by the same studio behind Venom’s previous installments, but this time, the format shifts entirely. Rather than another super-powered, CGI-heavy live-action spectacle, Sony is turning to animation. The project is said to be directed by Final Destination: Bloodlines filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, with a former Venom star involved “in some capacity.”
This development follows a period of recalibration for Sony’s Spider-Man-adjacent projects. “Back in December 2024, it was reported that Sony was going back to the drawing board for its Spidey-based efforts (outside of the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man films), after a string of critical and financial failures following the first Venom film.” While the original Venom soared past $856 million worldwide, subsequent villain-focused spin-offs struggled to replicate that success.
It would appear that this animated Venom movie may align with whatever retooled strategy Sony has been shaping behind the scenes. The studio plans to return to the comic book world later this year with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while the animated sequel Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is currently scheduled for release on June 18, 2027.
With those projects on the horizon, Venom’s animated pivot feels less like a gamble and more like a calculated shift.
A Strategy Taking Shape
Sony’s position in the Marvel landscape has always been unique. The studio continues to lend Spider-Man to Marvel Studios for the Tom Holland-led films, allowing the character to thrive inside the MCU. That partnership has paid off creatively and financially.
But outside of those collaborations, Sony has had to carve out its own path. That hasn’t always gone smoothly. Some of its villain-centered entries received harsh critical responses, and several failed to ignite sustained enthusiasm among fans.
At the same time, Sony struck gold with the Spider-Verse films. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its sequel redefined what superhero animation could look like. Those movies didn’t just perform well; they earned widespread acclaim and awards recognition. They became a blueprint.
Flops and Victories Pave the Way
So when Venom: The Last Dance and Kraven the Hunter struggled in 2024, it makes sense that Sony might reassess its approach. Animation offers flexibility, stylistic freedom, and the chance to tap into the goodwill of the Spider-Verse brand.
Sony Pictures Animation has established itself as one of the most innovative forces in modern animation. Beyond its Spider-Man entries, the studio has produced the praised K-pop Demon Hunters and the recently released GOAT. Leveraging that creative engine for Venom could open new storytelling possibilities that live-action constraints may have limited.
An animated Venom film would allow Sony to explore the character’s darker, stranger elements without the same budgetary and tonal restrictions. It could also serve as a bridge into whatever long-term vision the studio has for its Marvel character roster once the Spider-Verse storyline concludes.
In short, this move doesn’t feel random. It feels strategic.
Questions Still Linger
Despite the confirmation that the project is in development, many details remain unknown. It is unclear what Tom Hardy’s involvement will look like, if any. Reports indicate that a former Venom star will be involved “in some capacity,” but the specifics remain tightly under wraps.
Another major question centers on continuity. Will this animated film connect to Sony’s previously established Spider-Man Cinematic Universe? That shared universe, sometimes referred to as the SSMU, appeared to stall after a string of underperforming entries. Whether Sony intends to revive it or quietly move on has not been confirmed.
At this stage, no additional plot information, casting announcements, or release timelines have been made public. The project is reportedly in the works, but its full scope has not yet been disclosed.
For fans, that creates both excitement and uncertainty.
A New Chapter for the Symbiote
Sony’s decision to continue Venom—while dramatically altering its format—signals that the character still holds value for the studio. Rather than abandoning the franchise after mixed results, Sony appears ready to reinvent it.
Animation could breathe fresh life into Eddie Brock and his alien counterpart, giving the character space to evolve in ways live-action might not have allowed. It also positions Venom within the studio’s most consistently successful creative lane: stylized, boundary-pushing animation.
For now, the details remain limited. But one thing is clear. Venom’s story is not over. It’s simply transforming.
And if Sony’s animated gamble pays off, this fourth Venom movie could redefine the franchise in ways fans never saw coming.