Sony’s Spider-Man Universe: Transforming 3 Villains into Anti-Heroes While Overlooking Its True Anti-Hero

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) faces an uncertain future, especially following the disappointing box office results of ‘Kraven the Hunter.’ This outcome raises questions about the continuation of notable characters such as Tom Hardy’s Venom, Jared Leto’s Morbius, Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven. While the fate of these characters remains unclear, fans may not have seen the last of Venom: The Last Dance. Given the symbiote’s lasting popularity, there could still be opportunities for its return in future films.

One recurring critique directed at Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is its approach to character development, particularly how it reframes traditionally villainous characters as heroic anti-heroes. For example, Tom Hardy’s Venom is portrayed as unlikely to harbor animosity toward Spider-Man, while Morbius and Kraven engage in battles that seem justified by their motives. Despite being based on Spider-Man’s iconic rogues, Sony has yet to depict a truly malevolent lead character across its six films. However, this trend could have shifted with the introduction of Kraven the Hunter.

Agent Venom: Sony’s Potential First True Anti-Hero

The Case for Agent Venom as a Central Anti-Hero

Agent Venom from Marvel Comics and Tom Hardy's SSU Venom

While not officially confirmed by Sony, ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ hinted at a potential introduction of Agent Venom through the narrative of a soldier who loses his legs in the battle at Area 51 against the Xenophages. This injured character could parallel Flash Thompson, the comic book hero who becomes Agent Venom after bonding with the symbiote.

The post-credits scene of ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ suggests that a fragment of the symbiote survived the conflict. Consequently, after Eddie Brock’s separation from his symbiote, this revived version could potentially connect to Flash Thompson. Following the comic storyline, Flash could undertake covert missions, embodying Agent Venom—a complex figure who operates as both a dangerous adversary and a heroic force. Intriguingly, Agent Venom even joins the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics, evolving his powers to become Agent Anti-Venom.

The Possibility of Agent Venom Within the MCU

Multiple Avenues for Agent Venom’s MCU Introduction

Flash Thompson as Agent Venom in Marvel Comics

As anticipation builds, Tom Holland’s iteration of Spider-Man is expected to encounter the Venom symbiote eventually. There are a few possibilities for how this could unfold, particularly with the potential of Flash Thompson becoming the next host. This connection could stem from the character teased in the post-credits scene of ‘Venom: The Last Dance,’ enabling Flash to transition seamlessly from the Sony’s Spider-Man Universe to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) via the Multiverse. Alternatively, Tony Revolori’s established MCU character, Flash Thompson, may inherit the symbiote, transforming into Agent Venom. Having previously crossed paths with Spider-Man, this version of Flash could then find himself recruited into Rocket Raccoon’s new iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

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