Sony faces a major Venom problem after Morbius set up the Sinister Six. As franchise strategies go, Sony's Spider-Man Universe isn't the easiest to decipher. Intentions to make a Sinister Six movie first became apparent during The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but as Andrew Garfield's superhero career fell harder than Gwen Stacy, any supervillain team-up plans received a one-way ticket onto Sony's back-burner. A deal with Marvel saw Tom Holland take over Spider-Man duties in the MCU, leaving Sony to focus on its roster of licensed Marvel villains instead.

In exchange for continued use of Tom Holland, Kevin Feige let Sony play in the MCU's backyard - or a small corner of it, at least. Morbius borrowed Michael Keaton's Vulture (from Spider-Man: Homecoming), revealing how the villain swapped Disney's Earth-616 for Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Tracking down Jared Leto's Morbin' vamp, Vulture suggested a "bunch of guys" like them should team up, to which Morbius replied, "Intriguing." This scene breathes new life into Sony's old Sinister Six plans, and looking at the studio's upcoming slate, other slots could be occupied by Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Kraven the Hunter and Bad Bunny's, er... El Muerto?

Related: No Way Home Explains Morbius' Post Credits Vulture Plot Hole

That still leaves the Sinister Six two members light, and therein emerges a curious dilemma: should Sony put Tom Hardy's Venom in its villainous squad? Venom is a classic Spider-Man foe who has previously been a Sinister Six contributor in the Marvel comic books. He'd usually be a shoo-in for Sony's antagonist team-up gig, but with Tom Hardy in the role, Sony has transformed Venom into more of an anti-hero vigilante - maybe even an outright superhero. While 2018's Venom and 2021's Venom: Let There Be Carnage managed to showcase his good and bad sides, those looming Sinister Six plans will force Sony to make a decision one way or another. Does Venom give into his symbiote and join Adrian and Mike's bad boys club? Or does Sony lead Eddie Brock even further down the righteous path by having him oppose the Sinister Six?

Why Tom Hardy's Venom Shouldn't Join Sony's Sinister Six

Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock encased in Venom in Let There Be Carnage

Breaking Spider-Man status quo, Tom Hardy's Venom shouldn't involve himself in any upcoming Sinister Six shenanigans. Across Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Hardy has developed into a down-on-his-luck vigilante journalist attempting to control his inner monster, but often gets demonized regardless. Venom: Let There Be Carnage even ends with Eddie and Venom on the run as convicts, despite saving San Francisco from Carnage. Were Eddie to throw his lot in with outright villains, his development thus far would become obsolete. Helping defeat the Sinister Six, however, could be how Eddie wins back his liberty. Alternatively, Eddie might join the Sinister Six because has no other option, but betray the group once their true colors come to light. In either instance, a brush with Sony's Sinister Six should finally cement Venom's "good guy" credentials, rather than abruptly switching his ethical lane.

Pitting Tom Hardy's Venom against the Sinister Six group teased by Morbius would also help Sony's Spider-Man Universe coexist with the MCU. Although Hardy's Spider-Man: No Way Home cameo was something of a non-event, a piece of Venom is now sliding around the MCU seeking a host. Given how the MCU typically adapts comic book canon, this symbiote chunk will likely become a darker, corrupting force - not a lovable, goofy monster who does buddy comedy with its host. If the big screen is destined to have two versions of Venom occupying different superhero franchises, it makes sense that Sony's be an affable antihero, and the MCU's become a vicious villain, rather than both characters peddling the same middle ground.

More: Why Morbius' Reviews Are So Bad

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