Tom Hardy is Venom, Ruben Fleischer will direct

Tom Hardy is Venom

In a massive bit of casting news, Sony Pictures used Twitter to announce that Tom Hardy will play the titular character in the upcoming VENOM. Sources have also confirmed that Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Gangster Squad) will direct the film.

Posting a picture of the actor wearing a Venom t-shirt (embedded below), the studio has confirmed that the film will not be connected to the current Spider-Man cinematic universe, nixing any chance of seeing Venom jetting off into space with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

The casting of Hardy will instantly add a bit of gravitas to the film, especially given that he previously impressed audiences as the Batman villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

Written by Scott Rosenberg (Pain & Gain) & Jeff Pinkner (the less than inspiring The Amazing Spider-Man 2), production is said to begin in the US Fall. 

VENOM is due to hit cinemas on 5 October 2018 from Sony Pictures.