While Venom: Let the Holocaust see Tom Hardy's Eddie Bullock plays Woody Harrison's Kletus Casadi, several characters from the Marvel movies are also owned by the symbiotes in the comics. 2018's Venom saw the Spider-Man villain/anti-hero get the treatment he deserved after the controversial depiction of Spider-Man 3 in 2007. But the film is just the beginning of the so-called Sony Pictures Marvel Character Universe, which will feature Marvel characters as other Spider-Man characters in individual movies. Next year Jerry Deletto will play the titular hero of Mobius, while Aaron Taylor Johnson will get another Marvel show in Hunter Cleven.
Before these characters made their big-screen debuts, Hardy recreated the Marvel anti-hero in Venom: Let the Holocaust, which features an introduction to the live-action version, the Holocaust is another spider-like symbiote in the comics. It was set as a sequel after Harrison's Klatus debuted in Venom's Post-Credit Scene. While Venom and Massacre are the most well-known symbiotes in Marvel Comics and mainstream media, they still have several symbiotes as part of the legend. As shown in Venom, Eddie's symbiote is not alone, as there is a complete race in the expanding multiverse.
Since Marvel Comics has been developing the symbiotic myth for years, it makes sense for Sony to use more than just Venom in new movies. If the third Venom movie gets the green light, it makes sense to see them move further into Symbiote-related comics.
Eddie Bullock (incumbent)
In the comics, Eddie is usually the second host of the Venom Symbiote because of its connection to Spider-Man. However, after failing to establish contact with some of the Life Foundation's test subjects, Hardy's version of Eddie became the first host for the symbiont binding. Although initially afraid of it, Eddie and the symbiote eventually found an understanding as they together became Marvel's iconic deadly protectors. This pattern is repeated in the venom: the Holocaust. Before the final confrontation with Carnage and Shriek (Naomie Harris), the opposing duo of Eddie and Venom once again found themselves in conflict — and even went through some breakups — before finally finding more balance.
Anne Vivian
Toward the end of Venom, Eddie's ex-girlfriend, Annie Viying, temporarily assumes the owner of his symbiont when he is in trouble. When Eddie is about to be executed by Carlton Drake's men, an Anne, possessed by a symbiote, appears in time to stop them. Although this is a sudden moment for viewers who don't read comics, it's actually related to Annie's comic books. It's a nod to Annie's time when she became her venom in the comics, as the symbiote saved her from death after being shot by a sin eater. Although Venom 2 wasted her again - Venom Nevertheless, Anne got a taste of the life of a superhero. After they break up, Eddie asks Annie to find Venom. In doing so, she - Venom rescues Eddie from police custody before handing Venom over to her previous flames again. In the process, she apparently hopes that this won't be her last symbiote experience.
Carlton Drake
While the symbiote never took over the Marvel version of Carlton, the character of Ritz Ahmed does exist in the comics. Riot, the symbiote that took over Carlton, made its debut in the storyline of Venom: Deadly Protector, which was one of the script's inspirations. However, since Carlton's comic iterations were never associated with this particular symbiote, the canonical masters of the fist were Trevor Cole and Howard Ogden, neither of which appeared in Venom.
Peter Parker (Sam Remy Trilogy)
While there have been two other live-action versions of Spider-Man since the SamRemy trilogy, only Toby Maguire's Peter Parker has worn the Symbiote suit so far. Although the reception of Spider-Man 3 was mixed, when it came to Earth and attached itself to Peter's body, the trilogy introduced the symbiote into that universe. While this makes Peter stronger, the symbiote slowly begins to erode his personality, turning him into a violent cyber thrower. When Peter finally realized what it had done to him, he fought the Venom Symbiote to regain control of his mind and body.
Eddie Bullock (Sam Remy Trilogy)
A few years before Hardy signed up to play Eddie in Venom, Tover Grace was the first actor to bring Spider-Man rivals to life in Spider-Man 3. This view of the Venom Symbiote is similar to the comics, which is bonded with Eddie after Peter severed ties with Eddie because of his negative effect on him. Since Eddie lost everything because of Peter, during the symbiote phase, he turns into Venom and turns to sandmen to help him defeat Spider-Man. Although Peter manages to free Eddie from the Venom Symbiosis, he dies after Spider-Man destroys it using one of Harry Osborne's goblin bombs.
Kletus Cassade (Venom 2)
Although Spider-Man had to fight the Venom Symbiosis in the comics and media, there is no doubt that the Carnage was worse because its owners were as twisted as they were. Cletus is a deranged antisocial serial killer, and Carnage chose him as his master because he's one of the darkest supervillains Spider-Man has ever seen. Bringing him to life on the big screen, Woody Harrison's rendition of Kletus Cassade and the Holocaust remains distorted but very different. Still interpreted as a descendant of Venom, the massacre appeared inside Kletus after Klatus bit Eddie, rather than through an incision in his hand after having already spawned. Similarly, instead of the symbiotes sharing Cletus Kasady's psychosis, thus deepening their connection, Venom: letting the Holocaust portray them as separate entities, with occasional acts of conflict.
Mrs. Chan (Venom 2)
Mrs. Chan, played by Peggy Lu, first appeared in Venom. As the owner of a store that Eddie frequents, he and Mrs. Chen have a friendly interaction. Eventually, Venom rescued her from armed robbery. This protection in Venom: Let's keep it intact during the Holocaust, she offers chocolate for Eddie and his symbiotes in exchange. After a brief separation, the venom passes through various unknown hosts before landing with Mrs. Chen. It's unclear how long the couple bonded, or how Mrs. Chen used her new powers. However, when Venom reveals his eyes and speaks through her, Annie, her fiancé Dan (Ridd scott) and the audience all experience their union.
Patrick Mulligan (Venom 2)
Another character to join Venom: Let's Massacre is Patrick Mulligan, played by Stephen Graham. In Venom Vs. Slaughter #2, the evil symbiote, created toxin, another offspring who eventually bonded with Mulligan. So far, it's unclear whether Graham's Venom 2 character will become Toxin as he did in the comics, or adopt unrelated Symbiote names like Carlton Drake and Riot. Either way, the Venom sequel opens the door for his return in the form of superpowers. After Mulligan survived the screams, Venom destroyed Cassadi and slaughtered, part of which captured the ferocious detective—his eyes glowing with the word "monster" as he muttered to himself.
While many have mixed opinions about the lack of Spider-Man in the Venom series, it's impressive to see how much they can rely on comics without web crawlers. For most non-comic book readers, they will see an extended aspect of the symbiote myth, which usually doesn't get much exposure in the media. In most Spider-Man adaptations, Venom is portrayed as one of Peter's most illustrious villains. In some cases, Venom has allied itself with the Holocaust to defeat Spider-Man.
But comics have come a long way in terms of symbiotes, and Sony is taking advantage of its franchise. If Venom 3 happens, it won't be shocking if characters like Scream, Phage, Agony, and more are used correctly in the next issue. Since Venom: Let the Holocaust continue to dominate the box office, it will be interesting to see what other symbiotes might appear in sequels or potential spin-offs.