▪ Sony is rethinking its Spider-Man Universe after recent failures.
The most successful part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe is the Venom franchise. Starring Tom Hardy, this series introduced audiences to a fun and unpredictable symbiote, a different take on Eddie Brock, thrilling action, and memorable music.
The franchise wrapped up last year with Venom: The Last Dance, which performed well in theaters. Soon, fans will be able to stream the film on Netflix (via CBR) and experience the story again whenever they want.
Also Read: Venom: The Last Dance's Mid and End-Credits Scenes Set the Stage for Future Symbiote Adventures and the Return of Knull as a Major Threat
After the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, The Last Dance follows Eddie Brock and Venom as they become fugitives. Both of their worlds have turned against them, forcing them to escape as dangerous hunters close in from every side. As the pressure mounts, Eddie and Venom must make a difficult decision that will mark the end of their journey together.
The movie features an impressive cast, bringing several talented actors into the mix. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays General Rex Strickland, while Juno Temple takes on the role of Dr. Teddy Paine. Other notable cast members include Rhys Ifans as Martin Moon, Stephen Graham as Patrick Mulligan, Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen, Clark Backo as Sadie, Alanna Ubach as Nova, and Andy Serkis as Knull.
Kelly Marcel, who wrote Venom: Let There Be Carnage, directed The Last Dance. She crafted the film from her own screenplay, co-writing the story with Tom Hardy. Their collaboration resulted in an emotional and action-packed farewell to one of the most popular antiheroes in recent years.
The movie earned an impressive $478 million worldwide, proving the franchise's strong appeal. Hardy's performance, the thrilling stunts, and the visual effects received widespread appreciation from both fans and critics. However, reviews were divided.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the film a 40 percent rating, while audiences rated it much higher at 80 percent. This contrast highlights how well The Last Dance connected with longtime fans, despite mixed critical opinions. Now that the film is coming to Netflix, more people will have the chance to watch or revisit it.
Following the success of The Last Dance, Sony released Kraven: The Hunter, but it struggled at the box office, earning only $62 million. This disappointing result, combined with the failure of Morbius and Madame Web, led Sony to reconsider its plans for future Spider-Man-related projects.
Even with these setbacks, the studio is still working on Spider-Man films. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is in development. Additionally, Marvel Studios is overseeing Tom Holland's next Spider-Man movie. Whether Sony continues its Spider-Man Universe beyond these projects remains uncertain.
Fans can start streaming Venom: The Last Dance on Netflix starting February 25.