Tom Hardy and ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Director Kelly Marcel Knew Venom Would End After 3 Movies from the Start

Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel are ready to wrap up their work on Venom. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, ahead of the release of Venom: The Last Dance, the actor, 47, and writer-director, 50, share that they had planned the ending for the series from the start:

“We always knew it would be a trilogy. We knew the story would wrap up this way right from the beginning.”

Marcel wrote all three movies, with Hardy helping with the story for the last two. She also took on directing for the first time in this final film.

“Sony asked, and I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it. Having worked on the first two movies, we knew this one was both going to be a blast and pretty emotional.”

“Tom and I have worked on this for almost seven years and wanted to finish what we started. It felt like the right time to step up, and this was the right movie to do it with.”

Tom Hardy has been a core part of the series and shared his appreciation for his Venom team in a heartfelt Instagram post in November 2023, when they resumed production on the third film after the SAG-AFTRA strikes:

“It’s been a long journey, and it continues to be a lot of fun. Work can be tough, but it doesn’t feel as hard when you love what you do and have great material.”

He praised Marcel as his “director, writing partner, and dear friend:”

“Seeing you in charge of this one makes me so proud. You’ve got amazing instincts. Trust them.”

Hardy also revealed that his son Louis, 16, has been a steady critic of his work, especially on Venom, giving feedback on the trilogy since he was just seven or eight years old.

“Kids see comic book characters differently. They tell it like it is because these characters mean so much to them. As an adult, I overthink what others might want or what I can or can’t say. That can cloud my focus.”

In Venom: The Last Dance, Eddie, and Venom are on the run and facing tough choices that will end their story. The synopsis hints at finality, reading, “With both worlds closing in on them, Eddie and Venom are pushed into a difficult decision that will end their journey together.”

Though fans wanted a Venom and Spider-Man crossover, it never happened (for now). However, when asked which Spider-Man they’d like to see in the Venom world, both Hardy and Marcel quickly answered:

“Tom Holland,” Marcel says, with Hardy agreeing.

“Tom Holland. All day. Best Spider-Man ever,” Hardy adds, mentioning he’d also have liked to see Nicholas Hammond from the 1970s series. “He had, like, one web made of string, no digital effects. Just a man in lycra… I’d have to challenge him to a fight!”

Venom: The Last Dance is now playing in theaters worldwide, has opened at $52M domestically, and is supposed to earn more than $180M internationally this weekend.

The movie currently sits at a 6.2 score on IMDb and a 36% / 79% (critics/audience) RT score.

Via People

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