Venom 3 has found its director in Kelly Marcel, who previously penned the screenplays for Tom Hardy's first two outings as the titular character in Sony's Spider-Man Universe franchise.
Director Ruben Fleischer helmed the first Venom film and officially kicked off Sony's Spider-Man Universe, a franchise consisting of characters connected to the wall-crawler in the comics. Andy Serkis took over directorial duties for the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, but Marcel's rapport with Hardy while writing and producing both installments evidently landed her the directing gig for Venom 3.
Deadline reports that Marcel will take on directing duties for Venom 3 while also serving as a producer and penning the script. Hardy has already announced that Marcel was returning to write the Venom 3 script earlier this year, and insiders say Marcel became the clear choice to direct the film as the two began developing the story together. Hardy and Marcel had reportedly seen eye to eye on the franchise since the beginning, and this continued as they agreed on how to conclude the final chapter of the Venom film series. Of course, Marcel won't be the sole producer, as Hardy is also taking on the role along with Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker.
Venom 3 plot details are under wraps for the time being, and it is currently unknown who (if anyone) from the previous two films will be returning alongside Hardy. Since Venom: Let There Be Carnage premiered in theaters, Sony's Spider-Man Universe has added Jared Leto's Morbius to the franchise, with Dakota Johnson's Madame Web and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Kraven the Hunter currently in various stages of production. Whether or not Leto's Morbius, Johnson's Madame Web, Taylor-Johnson's Kraven the Hunter, or any other Spider-Man Universe newcomers will join Hardy's Lethal Protector in Venom 3 is a mystery at this time.
Of course, Sony may or may not want to see how Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter are received by audiences before moving ahead with any crossovers. After Morbius flopped at the box office, there may not be an appetite to see these characters meet on the silver screen, especially considering the Venom films didn't exactly receive glowing reviews either, despite their box office success.
While some believe Morbius proves Sony's Cinematic Universe will fail, others feel the Venom films are entertaining enough to have a solid framework for projects like Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter to build on. Time will tell, but with Venom 3 poised to be Hardy's final outing in the role, Sony will have to step up its game when its most successful character (who isn't Spider-Man) bows out.
Venom 3 is in development at Sony Pictures.
Source: Deadline