Sony and Marvel really need to get on the same page about their plans for Venom and all the other related Spider-Man characters who are being queued up to get the live-action treatment. Ever since their landmark deal to allow Peter Parker to enter the MCU, the exact specifics of what exactly that would involve have been hazy at best, with each studio refusing to clarify it. At this point, it seems like they don’t even know themselves what’s really going on, and it’s led to a whole lot of confusion amongst fans.
We know that Spider-Man is being lent to Marvel for them to use him in the MCU, which we’ve already seen in Captain America: Civil War and will see again next month with his own solo outing, but beyond that, we’re unsure of what the plan is. We imagine he’ll show up in Avengers: Infinity War as well, and if Tom Holland is to be believed, then we’ll get two sequels to Homecoming too, but nothing’s really been confirmed just yet. What’s perhaps even more confusing though is what’s going on with Venom.
Sony’s gearing up to get a project off the ground featuring the character, with Tom Hardy taking the lead role, but we’ve heard numerous times now, from numerous people, that Venom is going to be placed in a separate cinematic universe, one that the studio’s also going to throw Black Cat and Silver Sable into. And that’s just the start. From what we understand, Sony is looking to build their own Marvel universe populated by numerous Spider-Man characters. Sounds great, right? Sure, aside from the fact that Spider-Man himself won’t be involved. That’s because this cinematic universe is separate from the MCU. Or is it?
In what’s only caused even more confusion now, Sony’s Amy Pascal is saying that Venom exists in the same universe as Spidey. She doesn’t specifically say anything about the MCU, but in a recent interview, the producer noted that it’s all taking pace “in the same world.”
“Both movies will now take place in the world that we are creating for Peter Parker.” Pascal explained. “They’ll be adjuncts to it, they may be different locations, but it will still all be in the same world. And they will be connected to each other as well.”
Confused yet? Just wait, it gets worse. When asked if this means that Spider-Man will appear in the Venom movie, here’s what Pascal offered up.
“There’s always a chance. I think one of the things that Kevin has done with Marvel that’s so brilliant, is bringing the fans along, and making each movie feel like a chapter in a book. That you have to read that chapter in order to go forward. And I think the investment that fans get to feel in being part of a larger story and understanding what’s happening, is something that I know Sony would want to emulate.”
What the Sony head honcho says does indicate that Venom may be in the MCU after all, but given that we’ve been told several times now, very explicitly might we add, that the character exists in a separate universe, we’re really not sure what to think anymore. And it’s unlikely that Homecoming will make things any clearer.
Perhaps she just means that Spider-Man may appear in Sony’s universe, rather than having Venom and the others in the MCU? Either way, hopefully the two studios will get on the same page sooner rather than later, as it’s causing much frustration and confusion and is making it a bit difficult to get excited for Venom.
We’ll continue to keep you posted as more information comes to light, but in the meantime, tell us, what do you make of Pascal’s comments? Give us your thoughts in the usual place!