'Venom' Sequel in the Works With Writer Kelly Marcel

Venom is ready to bite off a little more from Hollywood.


Sony is developing a Venom sequel with Kelly Marcel writing the script, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Marcel is among the writers of the first film, and also counts Disney's upcoming Cruella as among her credits.


Sony declined to comment.


Venom survived bad reviews in October and went on to earn more than $855 million globally. The pic starred Tom Hardy as the Spider-Man anti-hero Venom and included a cameo by Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady, a serial killer who in the comics becomes Venom's archnemesis Carnage. Harrelson is expected to return to expand the role in a follow-up, and Hardy and Michelle Williams are expected back, as well.


Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and Amy Pascal are producing the sequel. Ruben Fleischer directed the first installment and is working on a Zombieland follow-up. He said at last year's Venom premiere that he expected to be involved in a sequel should one occur.


The Venom effort was the first in a shared universe of Marvel characters Sony is building out. The studio also has a Morbius film with Jared Leto in the works. Sony is coming off the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which bowed last month to critical acclaim. The film, which takes place in a separate universe from Venom, on Sunday night took home the Golden Globe for best animated film and has earned more than $275 million globally.