‘Venom 2’ Is In Search of a New Director

With Venom 2 slated to begin production in November, Sony is undergoing its search for a new director following the departure of Ruben Fleischer, the first movie’s filmmaker. Fleischer is currently filming the sequel to Zombieland, which is scheduled to hit theaters on October 11. 

Aside from Fleischer, nearly everyone else tied to the first film is coming back for second go ’round. One of Venom‘s screenwriters, Kelly Marcel, has already been tapped to pen the sequel. She is also expected to receive executive producer credits. Tom Hardy will reprise his role as Eddie Brock/Venom in the follow-up. Michelle Williams is also slated to return.

Woody Harrelson, who had his character Carnage teased in the first film’s end credits scene, is expected to become the sequel’s primary antagonist. Venom producer Avi Arad told Collider that the goal with portraying Carnage is to delve deeper into his persona, rather than predominantly leaning into his violent side. 

“When you hear, Carnage, the only thing you can think of is R. But, if you know his story, if you really know the comic, there’s no R here,” Arad told Collider. “He’s a tortured soul. It’s not about what he does, because we never have to show the knife going from here to there, and the blood is pouring. What you have to show is, what is the motivation? Was he born like that, or it’s someone we should feel for, because if you are succeeding to make a villain someone you can feel for, jackpot.”

Venom 2 is slated to be released on October 2nd, 2020.