With the buzz surrounding Black Widow and The Suicide Squad as well as the imminent release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, superhero films have so far played a pivotal role in the return of theaters. Originally, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was set to aggressively perpetuate that trend by releasing their supervillain sequel a mere three weeks after Shang-Chi, but Sony Pictures has looked at the 2021 slate and made a momentous decision that could impact the whole of the Fall movie season. It has been reported that Venom: Let There Be Carnage has been delayed from its original September 24th release to a date slightly later than the previous one.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage seeks to continue its franchise where the last film, Venom, left off. Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) has acclimated to a life coexisting with the alien parasite Venom (Tom Hardy) attached to his body. Eddie then attempts to reestablish his journalism career by interviewing death row inmate Cletus Kasady, who bonds with the alien parasite Carnage and must be defeated after his escape from captivity. The film is directed by legendary motion-capture actor Andy Serkis, written by Saving Mr. Banks writer Kelly Marcel, and co-stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham, and Mrs. Chen actress Peggy Lu.
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The Venom sequel, already delayed numerous times due to the pandemic, has officially been delayed from September 24th by three weeks to October 15th. The delay follows a rise in coronavirus cases and the disappointing weekend gross of Warner Bros.'s The Suicide Squad, having earned a meager $26 million. While that film did release simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, the latter release being free of charge, the underwhelming sales numbers may have been a factor in the decision. Sony Pictures has not given an official reason for the delay, though it is worth noting that the Venom sequel is now six weeks separated from the upcoming Shang-Chi as opposed to three. Additionally, the sequel will now release alongside Halloween Kills and The Last Duel as opposed to Dear Evan Hansen.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is not the only upcoming film to see a delay in its release. Previously, Denis Villeneuve's Dune was delayed three weeks from October 1st to October 22nd, possibly in response to the positioning of No Time To Die, the first James Bond film to release theatrically in about six years, one week later on October 8th. Paramount Pictures recently went even further by pulling Clifford the Big Red Dog from the 2021 release schedule entirely, as well as from the Toronto International Film Festival.
The delay of Venom: Let There Be Carnage will surely be disappointing to many fans of superhero films, albeit if the delay is only marginal. But Sony is surely making the right decision if it means keeping some members of the Venom fanbase safe from the ongoing pandemic, at least for time being. Hopefully, once the film is able to release, fans will be ready and willing to see it.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage releases in theaters on October 15th, 2021.
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Source: Collider