Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Tom Hardy’s Venom: The Almost-Crossover

Tom Holland’s iteration of Spider-Man narrowly missed out on a significant encounter with Tom Hardy’s Venom, as revealed by Hardy in a recent interview. Fans have long speculated about a potential crossover between Peter Parker and the characters from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Although such a showdown never materialized, Hardy’s insights shed light on just how close the two franchises came to merging.

During an appearance on The Discourse Podcast, Hardy discussed the challenges that prevented a crossover from happening. When asked about potential studio obstacles, he expressed that the idea of integrating Holland’s Spider-Man with Hardy’s Venom had gained significant traction:

We got close. We got as close as I could possibly imagine getting, apart from doing a film together, which I would have loved to have done because that just means so much fun. And for all the reasons that you explained ultimately in there… Fundamentally, for me, it would be for the kids. Because, you know, as much as adults love superhero films, as you can tell by the box office when they’re successful, I think I’m constantly reminded by children how important these characters are. And they don’t know why their favorite characters aren’t in films together.

Implications of the Near Crossover for Venom & Spider-Man

Although Hardy avoided delving into specifics, his remarks provide intriguing insight into this potential clash, especially in light of the events depicted in Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s plausible that the conclusion of Venom: Let There Be Carnage might have been conceived as a setup for a crossover in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite Eddie Brock’s brief appearance on Earth-616, he surprisingly never crossed paths with Holland or any alternate Spider-Man versions.

While there’s an existing partnership between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios concerning Holland’s Spider-Man, a recent report by Variety in 2024 clarified that this arrangement did not preclude the character from appearing in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Instead, Sony was reportedly concerned that audiences might find Holland appearing in a non-MCU film disconcerting. Yet, Hardy emphasizes that the ultimate dream for fans is to witness Venom and Spider-Man sharing the screen.

Analysis of Hardy’s Comments on the Crossover

Hardy’s reflections highlight his enthusiasm for a Spider-Man and Venom crossover, mirroring fan excitement over recent years. Despite the conclusion of Hardy’s Venom trilogy, there remains hope that forthcoming MCU films, especially the upcoming Avengers titles in Phase 6, could finally pave the way for an encounter with Holland’s Spider-Man. Until then, Marvel enthusiasts can only speculate and look forward to whether these two iconic characters will soon engage in a thrilling live-action battle.

Source: The Playlist’s The Discourse Podcast

Additional Source: Screen Rant