Venom: Let There Be Carnage has reportedly been delayed to a 2022 release date. The sequel to 2018’s Venom, which was a huge success at the box office despite poor reviews, Let There Be Carnage will see Tom Hardy return as the symbiote-afflicted Eddie Brock, this time facing off against Woody Harrelson’s Cletus Kasady/Carnage. Venom 2 also stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham, and Peggy Lu.
Even though the first Venom was panned by critics, excitement has built steadily for the sequel. The live-action debut of Carnage – an especially favorite Marvel villain among fans – has been highly anticipated. The film will also set up some longer-term plot threads for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, which will include upcoming films like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter. Unfortunately, the film has been delayed several times, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent production and theater shutdowns.
Now, it sounds like Venom 2 is being delayed once again. Per Vulture, sources say that the film’s premiere will be moved from October 15, 2021, to a new release date on January 21, 2022. Morbius is currently slated to premiere on that same date, which means that it would likely be delayed as well. Sony is reportedly waiting to announce the new release schedule until after CinemaCon has concluded.
Update: According to a report from Variety, a studio insider says Venom: Let There Be Carnage has NOT been delayed to 2022, and is currently still expected to release in October.
It’s unclear why exactly Sony is looking to push Venom: Let There Be Carnage, but the delay is likely tied to concerns that box office returns could drop in a fall season that may see covid-19 numbers rise once again. However, per the same Vulture report, other big-ticket releases like Dune, No Time to Die, and Top Gun: Maverick will likely be staying put on their current autumn release dates. It’s also possible that Sony is hoping to get an extra boost of interest from Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is slated to release on December 17.
No matter what the root reasons for the delay, it’s unfortunate that the fans who’ve already waited through multiple delays will once again have to be patient for Venom 2 to arrive. Sony has declared big plans for their Spider-Man Universe, and while that franchise technically started with the first Venom, Let There Be Carnage will be the first film to really open up its planned interconnectedness. The delay will theoretically put Venom 2 and Morbius in the same calendar release year, which could help build some momentum for the Spider-Man Universe if the films do well. For now, though, fans will have to keep waiting for Venom: Let There be Carnage to release.
Source: Vulture
