Venom 3 director teases a new antagonist and says [SPOILER] will return in the future

It was a fun ride while it lasted, but all things must come to an end. Venom: The Last Dance will be the final installment in the Lethal Protector's trilogy and (allegedly) the last we see of Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock. Anticipations are at an all-time high for the franchise to go out with a bang and deliver a memorable experience in the process. To do so, Sony revealed they were pulling the big guns and introducing the symbiote god himself, Knull.

There are many questions regarding the King in Black and what kind of role he'll have in Venom: The Last Dance. After all, just one movie wouldn't seem enough to make such a big character justice. Speculation grew rampant that perhaps Sony doesn't intend to do him as a one-and-done and, instead, he'll be the antagonist in more Spider-Man projects to come. Now, that theory was finally confirmed.

Knull isn't a one-and-done

In an interview with IGN, director Kelly Marcel revealed Knull's story is only being set up in Venom: The Last Dance. The intention is to treat him as other big Marvel villains such as Thanos, and tell his arc across multiple movies:

"The King in Black is way too powerful for “one and done“. This film introduces Knull, but it just touches the beginnings of his story. Marvel’s greatest film villains are developed over time. Here, Knull is the threat lurking behind the danger that tests the absolute limits of Eddie and Venom’s partnership."

- Kelly Marcel

Now, the question is: Where could we see the King in Black next, if not in a Venom project? Rumors have grown rampant that Spider-Man 4 could be the ideal place for that. The Marvel Cinematic Universe movie could see all three variants of Spider-Man team up with Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock to fight the King in Black and his army of symbiotes. But while that concept is pure speculation at this point, director Kelly Marcel did reveal there are more "symbiote stories" to come in the future:

"As the fans know there are many, many more symbiote stories — the universe is wide and rich, and one movie could never do justice to Knull. Beyond this trilogy, there are more stories to explore – God is coming."

- Kelly Marcel

This isn't the first time we've heard Knull's character will simply be set up in Venom: The Last Dance. In fact, multiple reports have suggested the supervillain and Venom won't even come face to face for now. But if that were to be the case, then there's an important question to ask: Who would act as the movie's main antagonist?

Thanks to a previously leaked teaser, we know Lasher or Toxin are the likely candidates to face Venom in his trilogy-capper. Now, Kelly Marcel also touched on lingering mystery and suggested there might be a twist few could've anticipated.

Is there a new villain lurking in the shadows?

The ending of Venom: Let There Be Carnage established Patrick Mulligan as a potential antagonist. Furthermore, trailers have confirmed Toxin's host will have a role to play in Eddie Brock's upcoming adventure. However, it seems he won't be alone as revealed by the movie's director:

"Is it just the return of Mulligan? Or is he returning with a friend? Symbiotes have some pretty special abilities, as you will see."

- Kelly Marcel

A leaked Fortnite art reveals an upcoming collaboration with Venom: The Last Dance will come in the form of an event called the Symbiote Cup, which will be taking place on October 22. Players will supposedly have a chance to win two skins: one of She-Venom (a character that appeared in the first Venom movie) and one of Agony. Interestingly enough, the latter has yet to make her debut on a live-action project, so was this art an accidental reveal of things to come?

So far, audiences have seen only one of the five Life Foundation symbiotes make an appearance on the big screen. So it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume the four remaining villains could all come together for the Lethal Protector's final chapter. After all, trailers for Venom: The Last Dance reveal Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple's characters will have access to multiple symbiotes trapped in containers. Could they bond to different hosts in order to hunt down Eddie Brock? Or are they mixing together to form Hybrid; a horrific amalgamation of symbiotes? Fortunately, it isn't long before we finally figure it out.

Venom: The Last Dance will premiere on October 24, 2024. Meanwhile, be sure to stick around with Whatever A Spider Can for everything Spider-Man-related!