As a long-time fan of both comic books and horror movies, I found myself intrigued by the potential connection between Life and Venom. Having grown up reading Marvel Comics, I was always fascinated by Eddie Brock’s transformation into Venom, and I felt that the 2018 film fell short in capturing the essence of the character.
Approaching its theatrical premiere on October 25, 2024, there’s been a lingering thought among Marvel fans that the 2017 sci-fi horror film “Life” might have been a prequel to “Venom.” Back in 2017, a Red Band trailer for “Life” showed some footage that sparked online theories connecting Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds’ space thriller to the origins of the Venom symbiote. However, these theories were largely dismissed as misunderstandings. But could there have been some truth to it all?
As a cinephile, I’ve found myself in an intriguing predicament when it comes to the film “Life.” While it may seem like a simple case of mistaken identity, it’s quite fascinating how many viewers find this movie to be a superior version of “Venom,” despite having no direct ties to the Sony/Marvel franchise featuring Tom Hardy. With the upcoming release of “The Last Dance,” I thought it would be apt to shed light on how this misconception came about and how snippets from “Spider-Man 3” were instrumental in propagating the theory that “Life” was, in fact, a sequel to “Venom.
Why Did Fans Think Life Was a Venom Prequel?
In 2015, Sony revealed intentions to produce a sci-fi horror movie titled Life, built upon a time-tested storyline where a team of astronauts encounters a lethal alien life form on Mars. This production can be seen as an extension of the Alien series, with terror mounting as the creature evolves from a menacing black goo, transforms into a relentless predator, and systematically hunts down the crew members. Approximately ten days prior to its theatrical release on March 24, 2017, scenes from the freshly edited Red Band trailer significantly changed viewers’ expectations of the film’s content.
In Sony’s Red Band trailer for the movie “Life,” footage from their “Spider-Man 3” film, specifically Sam Raimi’s final installment of the trilogy, was reused. In “Spider-Man 3,” Eddie Brock (played by Topher Grace) was introduced to the audience, transforming into Venom after being contaminated by an alien Symbiote. Therefore, when sharp-eyed Marvel fans noticed a fleeting shot of the same New York City skyline as in “Spider-Man 3,” they quickly suspected that “Life” might be a prequel of sorts to “Venom.” However, once “Venom” was released in 2018, this fan theory, though initially debunked, remained alive.
It’s not unusual for studios to reuse footage from one film in promotional materials for another. However, the creature in the movie ‘Life’ shares a striking physical resemblance with the alien symbiote in Venom, as seen in brief clips of New Yorkers gazing up at the sky in dread. In ‘Life’, the dangerous alien starts off as a black, gooey substance that bears an uncanny similarity to Eddie Brock’s Venom symbiote.
It’s clear that before their release, many fans drew parallels between the underlying themes of both movies, as suggested by visual cues in the mature-rated Life trailer and the depiction of the alien in Venom. However, what about after they were released? How did these two films compare or contrast?
How Life is a Superior Movie to Venom, Explained
The film “Life,” which premiered on March 24, 2017, was generally criticized as an unremarkable sci-fi horror movie within the genre. However, an initial dismissal of the theory, “Life” could have served as a prequel to Venom, given its plot revolving around the discovery of a lethal alien species on an extraterrestrial planet, which evolved through its oozy black physiology before causing rampant, brutal havoc. When “Venom” was released on October 5, 2018, “Life” further confirmed fans’ expectations for an Eddie Brock origin story. Critics gave “Venom” a Metascore of only 35, describing it as a tame, PG-13 comic book film that stripped the villain of its menacing qualities.
Instead of contrast, let’s consider a side-by-side comparison:
Do Life and Venom Share a Narrative Universe?
As the terrifying end approaches in their mission, two spaceships depart urgently from the International Space Station, having become home to a lethal alien creature named Calvin, who has transformed into a menacing lifeform. One of these vessels carries our main character, David Jordan (played by Gyllenhaal), along with Calvin, sent far away from Earth to prevent this deadly alien from endangering terrestrial life. The other vessel houses David’s fellow astronaut, Miranda North (portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson), who intends to rejoin humanity on Earth to share the findings they made on Mars.
In an astounding turn of events, I discover that our pod with David and Calvin is hurtling towards Earth, while Miranda’s vessel is propelled into the vastness of deep space. As the audience grasps the terrifying reality of an alien intruder on Earth, a scene unfolds where Calvin merges with David in a way that eerily mirrors Eddie Brock’s symbiotic fusion from Venom.
The likeness became so apparent that Life screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick addressed it online when promoting Lifefor Yahoo Movies! According to the writers:
To put it simply, it’s quite possible that this storyline could serve as a precursor to the events of ‘Venom’. If the character we see is indeed the Symbiote and it ends up in the water and bonds with Eddie Brock, that would be a solid start for a Venom origin story. It’s not too much of a stretch.
It’s interesting to point out that the director of Venom, Ruben Fleischer, is also the one who directed Zombieland, written by Reese and Wernick. The same duo is known for penning the Marvel’s Deadpool movies, featuring Ryan Reynolds, who played Life. Therefore, although they don’t belong to the same narrative universe, there seems to be a connection between Life and Venom due to shared creators. If Venom enthusiasts had their way, Life could be the origin story Eddie Brock has been missing on screen.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-23 01:31