Jenny Slate Joins Tom Hardy in ‘Venom’

Jenny Slate is in negotiations to join Tom Hardy in Sony’s “Venom” movie.

Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed are also on board with Ruben Fleischer directing. Sony had no comment on the casting.

Sources say Slate will play a scientist in the film.

Scott Rosenberg (“Jumanji”) and Jeff Pinkner (“The Dark Tower”) and Kelly Marcel will write the script for “Venom,” with Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach producing the movie, along with Amy Pascal. Palak Patel and Eric Fineman are overseeing the project for Columbia Pictures.

The studio has made it clear that Spider-Man will not appear in these stand alones but have left the door open for Venom to possibly appear in other “Spider-Man” related pics. “Venom” is set to hit theaters on Oct. 5, 2018.

Since its inception in 1988, the alien symbiote Venom has been one of “Spider-Man’s” most popular characters, making the film a top priority for Sony. Venom made his first big-screen appearance in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3,” where he was portrayed by Topher Grace.

Slate has already shown her range in 2017, jumping from dramas like “Gifted” to lighthearted dramedies like “Aardvark” and “The Polka King.” She recently starred in “Landline” for Amazon, reteaming with Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm, the filmmakers behind her 2014 comedy “Obvious Child.”

She just wrapped production on Drew Pearce’s “Hotel Artemis” opposite Jodie Foster and Sofia Boutella and lent her voice to Illumination’s “Secret Life of Pets 2.”

She is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Source: Variety