Venom: The Last Dance may have marked the end of Tom Hardy’s live-action trilogy as Eddie Brock, but the discussion around the symbiote has been far from dormant for long. Since the 2024 finale, questions about what comes next have continued to circulate, with fresh speculation pointing toward another Venom project. Now, the latest reports suggest Sony could be taking the franchise somewhere very different, raising a bigger question about what a post-Last Dance Venom actually looks like.

The interesting part is that Sony appears to be changing the medium rather than simply extending the franchise. For fans expecting Venom 4 to pick up where The Last Dance left off, the next chapter may look considerably different.

 There is no confirmed live-action Venom 4 starring Tom Hardy that Sony is currently developing. There is, however, an animated feature being developed at the moment where Hardy is involved as a producer. The project does not currently have an announced March 2027 filming date.

The Hollywood Reporter reported in February that Sony Pictures Animation was developing an animated Venom feature, with Final Destination: Bloodlines filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein attached to direct. The project is being developed as a separate animated feature rather than a straightforward continuation of Hardy’s three-film live-action run. 

That distinction matters because The Last Dance was explicitly marketed by Sony as the final film in the live-action trilogy. The movie closed the Eddie Brock and Venom story that Hardy had carried since 2018, meaning the existence of another Venom feature does not automatically translate into Venom 4 in the traditional sense. Sony, however, is clearly not finished experimenting with the character.

Tom Hardy Drops Surprise Debut Rap Album Filled With Explicit Lyrics and Hollywood References

While it may not be directly hindering Hardy's return as Venom in any way, shape or form, the actor has plenty of trysts that make up for the lack of a Venom 4 

That uncertainty around Tom Hardy's return as Venom has another interesting parallel in his television career. Earlier this year, reports suggested that his future on MobLand had become uncertain after behind-the-scenes tensions, raising questions about whether the actor would return as Harry Da Souza.

That situation eventually moved in the opposite direction. Paramount+ officially renewed MobLand for Season 3 in September and confirmed Hardy’s return alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren.

The development is particularly notable because Variety had previously reported that Hardy was not simply fired from the series and that discussions were underway to resolve the creative differences. The eventual Season 3 announcement confirmed that those conversations had succeeded. 

For MobLand, Hardy’s Harry is more than another name on the call sheet. He is the fixer who moves between the Harrigan family’s competing interests, giving the series a different rhythm from the imposing presence of Brosnan and Mirren. Keeping him allows the writers to continue developing that volatile triangle rather than rebuilding the series around a replacement.

For now, the symbiote is returning, but Sony appears to be changing the rules of the game. 

“Things Get Sad” – Tom Hardy Quashes Rumored Feud With ‘Mobland’ Co-Star Helen Mirren

What do you think about an animated Venom movie instead of a live-action Venom 4? Share your thoughts in the comments.