VENOM 2 Just Added A Second Villain To The Mix

Even as we speak, director Andy Serkis is deep in pre-production on Sony's Venom 2, the sequel to last year's surprise blockbuster ($856M worldwide, if you're wondering). They're bringing back Tom Hardy as Venom, Woody Harrelson as Carnage (presumably), and now - according to a new report over on Deadline - they've added another villain to the mix.

Says Deadline:

"It looks like Carnage will have company in Sony’s upcoming Venom sequel. The Marvel Comics character called Shriek has been incorporated into the plot of the Venom sequel (due in theaters on Oct. 2, 2020), according to two sources close to the project.

...The addition of Shriek is a logical choice considering the character’s history in the pages of Marvel Comics as the sonic-powered accomplice and romantic interest of serial killer Cletus Kasaday, aka Carnage, the monstrous archenemy of Venom."

Maybe you're unfamiliar with Shriek. Here's the news: as noted above, the character is, in fact, a love interest of Cletus Kasaday, and first appeared in the pages of Spider-Man Unlimited #1. She's a former drug dealer turned supervillain, one who can fly, shoot "sonic energy blasts" and "stir up dark and violent emotions in others." Sounds like a keeper! 

Bringing Shriek into the Venom 2 fold indicates that Carnage will, in fact, serve as the film's primary antagonist, and further deepens the roster of Spider-Man villains Sony's assembling for itself. As of this writing there's no indication who might play the role in Serkis' film, but Deadline reports the production is looking at a wide array of actresses for the role (with the filmmakers looking "mostly at unknowns"). Interesting!

Nothing further to report at this time, but do stay tuned for more on Venom 2 as further updates become available.