Sony Confirms New Animated ‘Venom’ Movie After Three Live-Action Films

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has been striving for the success that ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ achieved with its animation, and it seems that this strategy is now extending to one of the studio’s most profitable characters. With ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ currently taking over theaters, Sony’s broader plans for its shared universe are becoming clearer once again.

Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Eddie Brock and Venom has been a significant asset for the studio, resulting in three feature films that collectively earned over $1.8 billion worldwide, despite receiving mixed reviews. This commercial success, combined with the character’s large fanbase, made Venom a prime candidate for further development, even as other live-action spinoffs like ‘Morbius’ and ‘Madame Web’ faced challenges at the box office.

Producer Amy Pascal has confirmed that Sony’s next project featuring Venom will be an animated film, marking a notable shift from the character’s live-action origins. Pascal shared this news during her appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, aligning with earlier reports from The Hollywood Reporter that first disclosed the project back in February.

According to the initial report, the animated ‘Venom’ film will be directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the duo behind the upcoming horror hit ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines.’ Pascal will produce alongside longtime Venom collaborators Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, maintaining a partnership that has lasted through the entire live-action trilogy.

Hardy is expected to remain involved in the project in some capacity, though it is still uncertain whether he will reprise his role as the voice of Eddie Brock and Venom or take on a behind-the-scenes production role. Kelly Marcel, who wrote all three live-action Venom films and directed ‘The Last Dance,’ is also attached as a producer, but she will not be writing the animated film’s script.

Instead, Sony Pictures Animation is establishing a full writers’ room to develop the project, indicating that the film is still in the early stages of development. No release date or additional casting details have been announced yet, and it’s important to note that ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ creators Phil Lord and Chris Miller are not currently involved with this project.

This shift towards animation aligns with a broader trend for Sony, which has increasingly relied on its animation division following the tremendous success of the ‘Spider-Verse’ franchise. With ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ still on the way for 2027, Sony seems to believe that animation could provide a more dependable path for its Marvel characters compared to recent live-action spinoffs.

This strategy is appealing, especially considering Venom’s box office performance across its three live-action films, which saw a decline in earnings with each installment. ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ wrapped up the trilogy in 2024 with $478.9 million worldwide, the lowest total of the three films, although it still managed to be profitable for the studio.

With Pascal confirming the project during her promotional rounds for ‘Brand New Day,’ fans now have official confirmation from one of Sony’s key producers that Venom’s next chapter is indeed taking a new creative direction. Whether this animated reinvention can regain the character’s previous box office success remains to be seen, but the ambition behind this move is evident.

What are your thoughts on Sony moving Venom into animated territory after three live-action films? Share your opinions in the comments.