Why Venom 3 Is The Final Chapter, But Not The End

Venom 3 is being described as the “final chapter” in Tom Hardy’s series of Venom movies (via Deadline), but that does not mean it will be the end of Hardy’s run as the Spider-Man villain. While Venom has been one of Marvel’s most popular characters for years, not many people believed a solo Venom movie with no ties to Spider-Man would work. However, not only was Venom (2018) a commercial success that is now leading to a trilogy of films, the Tom Hardy movie set the stage for an entire Spider-Man cinematic universe to be created. As such, it’s difficult to imagine Sony’s Spider-Man universe continuing without Venom.

Considering how diversified Tom Hardy’s career is, it makes sense for the actor to only make three solo Venom movies. As proven by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man or Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, a character’s legacy in a franchise can continue past its own dedicated series of movies. Even if Venom 3 is indeed the final chapter in the Venom franchise, Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock could still return as part of Sony’s Spider-Man universe. It isn’t clear how exactly Sony’s Spider-Man villain universe will play out, but a crossover event focused on a new iteration of the Sinister Six as teased by Morbius’ post-credits scene is expected to happen. There is also the possibility that "the final chapter” doesn’t necessarily mean "the final movie,” but instead a turning point in the Venom series.

MCU's Spider-Man Shows How Hardy's Venom Could Continue

Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third movie in the MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy, is a perfect example of a final chapter that is not actually the end of the story. No Way Home was a closing chapter for the MCU’s Spider-Man in many ways – it tragically concluded Peter and MJ’s story, it revisited moments from all previous Spider-Man films, and it saw Peter Parker truly understating what the “With great powers…” line means. However, at the same time, Spider-Man’s final swing in New York at the end of No Way Home represented a new beginning for the character now that the world has forgotten Peter Parker. Venom 3 could replicate this trick and set up a new trilogy for Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock.

Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Can Pave The Way For A New Venom

Another example of an ending chapter that is not necessarily the end of the story is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The next Guardians of the Galaxy movie is confirmed to conclude the journeys of the original Guardians of the Galaxy and is expected to be one of the MCU’s most emotional films. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will also be James Gunn’s final Marvel movie, as Gunn will now be the DCEU’s head executive. Neither Kevin Feige nor James Gunn has said that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be the end of the franchise. A new Guardians of the Galaxy team may be put together in the future, which would make Vol 3. both an ending and a new beginning – and that is what Venom 3's “final “chapter” could mean.

At a time when crossovers and recurring characters are the keys to successful superhero franchises, Venom 3 will likely not be the last time audiences see Tom Hardy’s Venom. The Venom franchise is a proven success, and it showed twice that it does not need Spider-Man to work. Still, the prospect of Venom facing Spider-Man at some point makes the future of Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock even more exciting. It is also possible that a potential Venom 4 features a different Venom host, although that is less likely.

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