Sony's new planned Venom film already boasts the performing talents of Tom Hardy. And if the studio has its way, it'll also feature Riz Ahmed, who is in early talks to join the movie.
Given the preliminary nature of the attempt to hatch a deal, there has been no official confirmation, and Sony won't say exactly who Ahmed could end up playing. But Variety has heard it would be a "popular Marvel Comics character". He's the new new new Spidey! Okay, not so much – especially since Marvel has said that everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood web-slinger (Tom Holland is the man in the suit) may not even appear in this film, which aims to stand alone from the likes of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Ruben Fleischer is on to direct the new movie, with Hardy as Eddie Brock, who is merged with the outer space symbiont and gains his own set of powers and a distinctly less friendly attitude than Spidey. Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner have been figuring out the script for the movie, which currently lays claim to a 5 October, 2018 release date, and an apparent stand-off with Warners' DCEU entry Aquaman.
Ahmed was last seen in City Of Tiny Lights and is at work on Western tale The Sisters Brothers