Sony has scheduled “Spider-Man” spinoff “Venom” to be released on Oct. 5, 2018, TheWrap has learned.
That date was the original timing for the release of Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman” before that film got moved on Thursday to Dec. 21, 2018.
Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are producing the movie, which is expected to launch a new franchise that exists separately from and unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland. Plot details, however, are being kept under wraps.
In the Spidey comics, Venom is an alien symbiote who needs a human host to survive. In return, the host is granted incredible powers rivaling those of Spider-Man.
Originally introduced as a new Spider-Man costume variant based on alien technology in 1984 and as a full-fledged Spider-Man villain in 1988, Venom grew to become an anti-hero and is currently established as a full-fledged hero in the Marvel Comics universe.
Columbia Pictures executives Palak Patel and Eric Fineman will oversee the project on behalf of the studio, which cast Topher Grace as the character in “Spider-Man 3.”
Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner are writing “Venom” for the studio.
Jon Watts’ “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly and Bokeem Woodbine, as well as Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Michael Chernus, Kenneth Choi, Hannibal Buress, Martin Starr, Michael Barbieri, Angourie Rice and Abraham Attah, opens on Friday, July 7.
Sony’s untitled “Miles Morales/Spider-Man” animated film, directed by Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsey, comes out in theaters on Dec. 21, 2018.