Tom Hardy’s Venom Is Done – But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

Tom Hardy's Venom Is Done - But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

As a die-hard comic book fan, I wholeheartedly agree that Alan Ritchson would make an exceptional Venom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His rugged charm and physical prowess, as evidenced by his role as Jack Reacher, perfectly aligns with the character of Eddie Brock and his symbiote alter ego.


The third installment of “Venom,” titled “Venom: The Last Dance,” has made a good showing at the box office, but its opening weekend earnings have fallen short compared to its predecessors. Specifically, it earned about $51 million, while “Venom” opened with $80 million and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” brought in over $90 million. Despite this, hints in the post-credit scenes of “Venom: The Last Dance” indicate that Sony intends to continue the antihero’s storyline, as Knull, the King in Black, is set to appear. However, when Knull eventually steps down from his symbiote throne, a new Venom may take his place – and we believe we’ve found an excellent candidate for the role.

There’s a star waiting in the wings who is fully deserving of a vehicle like Venom. He’s an action hero who already has the experience of portraying a one-man army and has the ability to bring the fierce and unpredictable ferocity that Hardy’s iteration was considerably lacking in. He’s a man who can strike fear into the hearts of the criminals and supervillains that Venom so rarely rumbled with in the last three films while leaving you wondering if you should be rooting for him or not. It doesn’t matter what portal or alternate reality Sony digs into to revive Venom from; just make sure that Alan Ritchson is Eddie Brock in the MCU.

Alan Ritchson is the perfect host for Venom

Tom Hardy's Venom Is Done - But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

In a surprising turn for many viewers, Alan Ritchson emerged seemingly out of thin air when he debuted as Jack Reacher, the enigmatic giant of a man who roams towns, resolving issues and breaking bad guys’ limbs on Amazon Prime’s “Reacher.” With a third season in the works, along with roles in upcoming films like “Fast X,” “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” and eight other projects yet to be released, there’s no doubt that Ritchson is rapidly transitioning from a popular choice to an extremely desirable one. Given his current trajectory, it seems fitting to cast him in the role of a comic book antihero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a potential twist, Ritchson himself has expressed interest in playing Batman for DC Universe, yet his character traits seem to align more with Eddie Brock than Bruce Wayne. To illustrate this, consider the Marvel Comics era where Brock is portrayed as a bold and imposing figure, much like Ritchson’s action hero on Amazon, contrasting with Tom Hardy’s edgy and anxious Venom.

Sony need to give Venom over to the MCU just like they did with Spider-Man

Tom Hardy's Venom Is Done - But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

Making the strategic decision to loan Spider-Man (Peter Parker) to Marvel Studios and the MCU was undeniably one of Sony’s wisest choices, and it continues to pay off. Placing the web-slinger alongside heroes such as Captain America and Doctor Strange not only boosted Sony’s stake in blockbusters like “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” but also created a rich tapestry for Marvel storytelling that fans are eagerly anticipating.

Due to the occurrences in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and “Venom: The Last Dance,” we’ve learned that characters from different realities can either look identical or completely dissimilar to their counterparts. Given this, it’s plausible that an Eddie Brock resembling Jack Reacher could be present in Earth-616, going about his business, and soon getting a costume fitting that will take things to a whole new level. This change could elevate Venom to a more significant role, one that could interact well with Spider-Man and other Marvel characters. It’s not far-fetched to imagine him eventually becoming an Avenger. While this idea might seem far-fetched, it is rooted in comic book lore, and Ritchson does have a connection to the MCU.

Alan Ritchson missed a shot at the MCU with Thor – but he’d make a better Venom

Tom Hardy's Venom Is Done - But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

In February 2024, Ritchson confessed to Men’s Health that he was a strong contender for Thor, but admitted he didn’t give it his all. “I took it too lightly. I thought they’d just give me the part if I looked the part; acting wasn’t really important.” The role eventually went to Chris Hemsworth, but looking back, Ritchson’s most significant role yet shows he could have been a fitting son of Odin. A day in the life of Jack Reacher involves being heroic, occasionally charming in a clumsy way, and always appearing cool while defeating hordes of enemies. This character description also fits Eddie Brock, so there’s no doubt Ritchson could team up with Venom to achieve the same success.

It’s anticipated that Thor will rejoin the action when the Avengers are called together again, but there’s no definite word on whether or not he’ll have another solo adventure. Given this uncertainty, the Avengers and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole could benefit from a powerful character capable of wreaking havoc on enemies, and Ritchson with a symbiote serves as an excellent substitute for Thor-like might. If Ritchson delivers as expected, he could push the franchise into the darker realms it’s been hinting at, paving the way for Venom’s formidable adversary to receive the epic treatment he requires and pushing Marvel further into the shadowy territories it’s already approaching.

Ritchson’s Venom could bring the edge that Hardy lacked when the Knull returns

Tom Hardy's Venom Is Done - But The MCU Can Recast Him With One Person

In a different phrase, “Venom: The Last Dance” seemed to hint at Knull’s presence, but the third installment wraps up with the same hurried-yet-uninspired energy that characterizes most post-credit scenes in Sony’s comic book movies. If this pattern continues, it might be more engaging for Knull to leap between realities to discover another codex, liberating himself and finding it in a new Venom who is stronger and deadlier than the one we’ve followed across three films. At this stage, perhaps it would be wiser for Sony to let Knull serve as the catalyst for Tom Hardy’s Venom to align with Earth’s most powerful heroes, paving the way for an adaptation of the “The King in Black” storyline that “The Last Dance” struggled to convey effectively.

Introducing Knull into the Marvel Cinematic Universe could pave the way for some epic moments from Marvel Comics to unfold as a grand event. In “Avengers: Secret Wars,” Tom Holland’s Spider-Man might stumble upon a dark suit, leading to a new rulebook and Knull tracking this signal before the symbiote eventually latches onto Ritchson’s Eddie Brock. Although it may seem like a long road, it would be a gritty journey that truly embodies Venom and Eddie – a journey that calls for a hard-edged antihero to serve as an intense reflection of Spider-Man, a role that Tom Hardy’s portrayal didn’t quite capture. Sony, consider making the shrewd choice – let Ritchson form a bond with the symbiote and engage in combat with Spider-Man. It would be a near-perfect match.

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2024-11-09 22:00