Sony’s Venom franchise is heading in a new direction. The studio is developing its first animated feature centered on the Marvel anti-hero.
Final Destination Directors Step In
Sony has tapped Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein to direct the project. The duo recently delivered the surprise horror hit Final Destination: Bloodlines, which helped put them on Sony’s radar.
Familiar Producers Return
The animated film brings back key players from the live-action franchise. Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmachwill produce the feature.
Tom Hardy, who starred as Eddie Brock and voiced Venom in the live-action trilogy, is also on board as a producer. Kelly Marcel, Hardy’s longtime collaborator on the films, is producing as well.
Writers Room in the Works
No writer is currently attached. Sony’s animation division, Sony Pictures Animation, plans to open a writers room to develop the script and explore multiple story approaches.
A Character With Deep Comic Roots
Venom was created by writer Bill Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane. The character debuted as a villain in 1988’s The Amazing Spider-Man No. 300 before becoming a fan favorite and one of Spider-Man’s most enduring foes.
Venom received his first solo comic series in 1993. He later made his big-screen debut in Spider-Man 3, directed by Sam Raimi, with Topher Grace portraying the character.
