Sony Pictures just dropped an unexpected surprise today by announcing and confirming that Tom Hardy has been cast as the infamous Marvel villain Venom aka Eddie Brock in an upcoming film helmed by Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer. Who knew the photo of Tom Hardy wearing a Venom t-shirt for the announcement would have the nerd world in such a tizzy. But I guess I shouldn’t be completely surprised since Tom Hardy is a self confessed Venom fan.

I will admit, like many others the Venom film didn’t even register in my radar until Tom Hardy was involved because now I’m intrigued. I guess I had little faith before in the upcoming film project, mainly due to the best left forgotten portrayal by Topher Grace in Spiderman 3. But now that Tom Hardy is tied to this film and the fact that it will be ‘R’ rated has given me faith that this will be a film worth seeing and maybe finally Sony Pictures can redeem themselves from the shambles that was Spiderman 3? Production is set to begin this fall with a release date in October 2018. Like everyone else now, all I can say is roll on October 2018.

On another note is it too much wishful thinking to hope for a Venom panel with Tom Hardy and Ruben Fleischer at San Diego Comic-Con International 2017?