Tom Hardy Reveals Comic Book Inspiration for Venom Movie

Topher Grace gave us the first live-action depiction of Eddie Brock and Venom. In Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 the That 70’s Show star did the best he could with the material. The film was a bit of a mess. One that basically derailed Raimi’s “vision” for Spider-Man 4 and led to the Marc Webb reboot.

But now, things are coming back together for Venom. Tom Hardy was recently cast in a Sony-produced reboot of the character. Ruber Fleischer, director of Zombieland and Gangster Squad, is set to helm the film. Comicbook.com captured some quotes from the The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road and Dunkirk actor, who had recorded a message from the film’s set to send to Brazil’s Comic Con Experience 2017.

According to the website, Hardy promised to do “justice” to character and bring a much needed amount of “dark humor” to the role. That’s literally the most important aspect of the character. Venom isn’t the most vicious, purely visceral Spider-Man villain. That title belongs to the slightly related villain, Carnage (who may be played by Riz Ahmed). Instead Venom serves as Spider-Man’s polar opposite. He’s harsh, rude, mean, corrupt and evil. But he mocks Spider-Man, and other than the Goblin-family he is Peter Parker’s biggest nemesis. Thankfully, the film seems to have the right inspiration.

A Lethal Dose

Hardy revealed the film is inspired by the Venom: Lethal Protector series. Venom: Lethal Protector is a six issue comic mini-series from 1993. The comic was written by David Michelinie and drawn by Ron Bagley, Sam Delarosa, and Ron Lim. The series explores the idea of Spider-Man and Venom coming to a truce. Venom then moves to San Francisco and attempts to start a new life.

The fact, that Hardy says this is the inspiration of the film is interesting news. For one, it implies that the film may act as if Venom has already existed within this Marvel Universe. Lethal Protector does not depict an origin for Venom. Instead, it takes place ages after the conflict between Venom and Spider-Man began.

Does this mean that Hardy’s Venom and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man have met before? Probably not.

It is most likely going to include the villain’s origin. He is one of the most well-known Spider-Man villains, but his origin isn’t common, public knowledge. Considering Lethal Protector is about one of the family members of Venom’s victims coming after him, that may be the entire plot of the film right there. During the “blossoming” of his power Venom accidentally kills someone. Then, Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock tries to use his powers for the sake of good. Becoming an anti-hero of sorts. Then, while everything seems to be going well, the victim’s relative shows up to remind him of what went wrong.

A simple but effective story to make the Hardy-starring, Fleischer-directed film a unique entry into the Marvel film slate.

The Sony blockbuster is set to release on October 8th of next year.

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