Woody Harrelson is in talks to join Tom Hardy in Sony’s Marvel superhero movie “Venom,” TheWrap has learned.
Harrelson’s role remains under wraps. The actor, last seen playing the villain in last summer’s “War for the Planet of the Apes,” just recently wrapped a role in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” playing Han Solo’s mentor.
Ruben Fleischer is directing the film, based on the script that is written by Scott Rosenberg (“Jumanji”) and Jeff Pinkner (“The Dark Tower”).
Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are producing with Amy Pascal. Harrelson has a strong relationship with Fleischer and has previously worked with the director on his break out hit “Zombieland.” Sony declined to comment on the casting news.
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“Venom” is from Sony’s Marvel Universe of characters and will not be a “Spider-Man” spinoff.
Venom is one of the most popular superheroes in the Marvel Universe and dates back to the 1980s when Spider-Man briefly adopted a black costume which later turned out to be a living alien being.
Photographer Eddie Brock was able to merge with it and become the horrifying, sharp-fanged Venom. Brock was played by Topher Grace in “Spider-Man 3.”
Throughout the history of Marvel Comics, Venom has appeared alongside Spider-Man, Iron Man, Deadpool, the Hulk and many other Marvel Comics characters — though the film rights to most of those characters (aside from Spider-Man) are tied up with other non-Sony studios.
Harrelson is represented by CAA.
“Venom” will be released on October 5, 2018.