Few would argue that the 2018 Venom movie lived up to Martin Scorsese’s definition of cinema. But while the film generally didn’t win over critics, it did become a massive box office hit – with Tom Hardy in the spotlight and a beloved comic book anti-hero at its heart, Ruben Fleischer’s effort bagged over $850 million at the worldwide box office. Naturally, that means there’s a follow-up arriving this September, originally scheduled for September last year, by the name of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Hardy returns as Eddie Brock (and his symbiotic alien alter-ego), and as Venom’s credits sting teased, this one introduces Woody Harrelson as serial killer Cletus Kasady, who becomes the host for the oozing red symbiote Carnage. Check out the first trailer:
OK, be honest: who had ‘Venom making a chaotic breakfast in an apartment filled with chickens’ on their bingo card? Anyone? If the first Venom had flashes of welcome weirdness among its familiar, throwbacky origin story (remember Tom Hardy eating lobsters in that fish tank?) there’s evidence here that Let There Be Carnage will double down on the wild buddy-comedy potential of a journalist trapped alongside his flesh-chomping alien pal – and Hardy seems committed as ever. Speaking of ‘committed’, we get a glimpse of Carnage’s origin story here, with Kasady’s death penalty injection being interrupted by an outburst of alien goop. Plus, there’s a glimpse of Stephen Graham (and his toupee) playing a Daily Bugle-reading cop, a prison riot set piece, and a fully-fledged look at Carnage in at its gooey red glory.
Here’s the new poster too:
This second instalment is directed by Andy Serkis – here’s hoping he can expand on the things that did work in the first film and deliver a more solidly entertaining sequel. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is expected to arrive in cinemas from 24 September.