Gary Ross Lined Up to Write/Direct Venom
Wed, October 7, 2009 
Variety reports that Sony has lined up Gary Ross (whose currently doing rewrites on Spider-Man 4) to write and possibly direct a Venom movie. Although details remain under wraps, it appears we shouldn't expect Topher Grace (who played Eddie Brock in Spider-Man 3) to return. It also remains a question as it whether this would be a spin-off of the Spider-Man films or a reboot (and hence the introduction of a new actor as Brock more in line with his comic-book counterpart).
There have been rumblings for awhile now that Sony was planning on a solo Venom film. But I figured it would turn out to be just talk. Shows what I know.
Of all the things to bitch about Spider-Man 3 (and boy were there), the decision to cast Topher Grace as Eddie Brock was one of the better decisions. I know that's an unpopular opinion, but I've never been a fan of the Venom character. But hearing Sam Raimi give interviews during the making of the third installment won me over.
His approach was, "What if Peter Parker became Spider-Man without the benefit of having been raised by an Uncle Ben and Aunt May to bestow on him morals and values?" You'd essentially get Brock and the move to cast an actor with a similar look to Tobey Maguire certainly sold that concept. The problem is that never came across onscreen. Spider-Man 3 was bogged down with other pointless bullshit to focus on that.
Of course, it should be quiet the concern for Sony. Is it a smart idea to invest in a new Venom film when audiences are still licking the wounds from the last Spider-Man installment? I don't know too many people who are looking forward to another cinematic go-around with Webhead.
Reader Comments (1)
Does it *have* to be Eddie Brock? What if...one of the baddies in Spider-Man 4 is The Scorpion? We get a new actor there. Scorpion then gets the symbiont on him and becomes the new Venom? Better yet, as for recasting Brock, one line "What happened to my face, my voice.." because of the symbiote blowing up with Brock, once he reforms he does not look or sound the same. I don't think for one moment this would be a retcon of Spider-Man and that Spider-Man would share the same "universe"