After it was announced yesterday that Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” was vacating its June 25, 2021 release date for October 1, 2021, many just assumed that the original date would be superhero-free. But Hollywood is going to Hollywood, and now, it has been announced that Sony is quickly going to snag that date for “Venom 2,” errr, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
According to Deadline, Sony has moved “Venom 2” from its October 2 date and putting it in prime summer movie season, with a new date of June 25, 2021. The interesting thing about this delay is that Sony never really announced that the sequel was hitting theaters this October. It was assumed, sure, but never confirmed. However, it’s clear that the studio thinks June 2021 is a better date for the newly titled sequel. (Am I the only one that thinks ‘Let There Be Carnage’ is a bit…silly? But hey, it does confirm Carnage is going to be the baddie, so that’s something.)
What isn’t clear is why the film is moving. With production wrapped, it means that maybe post-production is taking far too long under the COVID-19 pandemic. But perhaps this is just a move where Sony thinks the new date is a better chance to earn $1 billion from “Venom 2?” The first film got to $800 million in October 2018, surprising many. Now, with the movie-going public aware of Tom Hardy’s new ‘Spider-Man’ spin-off franchise, maybe a June date ensures that the sequel is able to soar even higher?
Also, of note, the new date all but guarantees that “Spider-Man 3,” which is likely going to face a production delay, is also going to get a new release date, as the July 16, 2021 release would fall a bit too close to “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
“Venom 2” is a return to the franchise for Tom Hardy, but comes with a new director at the helm, with Andy Serkis stepping behind the camera. This is a huge opportunity for Serkis, who saw his previous directorial effort, the ‘Jungle Book’ reimagining, “Mowgli,” relegated to Netflix instead of a big-screen debut. However, there aren’t many projects out there that are higher profile than “Venom 2,” so the superhero sequel is a prime chance for Serkis to establish himself as a blockbuster filmmaker.
We’ll find out if “Venom 2” is worth the wait when it hits theaters on June 25, 2021.