After weeks of rumours and ‘in talks’ reports, Venom 2 has finally and officially hired Andy Serkis to direct, according to Variety.
Serkis beat the likes of Bumblebee‘s Travis Knight and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes‘ Rupert Wyatt, who were also in talks for the job. The film is set to hit cinemas in October 2020.
The new director will be taking the reins from Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Gangster Squad), who directed the first Venom film. Fleischer’s commitments to his Zombieland sequel Zombieland: Double Tap meant that he couldn’t return for Venom 2.
Though Serkis is perhaps best known for his acting roles and motion capture work, he also has some experience behind the camera, and has directed Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle, Breathe and TV movie The Ruins Of Empires.
The first Venom film, which was released in the autumn of 2018, received somewhat mixed reviews (and that’s putting it kindly), but we kind of loved it. Which is why we were thrilled when star Tom Hardy, who plays both Venom and Eddie Brock, revealed that he had signed on for two more Venom films.
Woody Harrelson and Michelle Williams are also both set to reprise their roles in the sequel, and the first film’s producers (including Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and Amy Pascal) will be back on board too. Venom screenwriter Kelly Marcel is both serving as an executive producer and penning the script.
Venom 2 will be in cinemas in October 2020. Get all the latest sci-fi news with every issue of SciFiNow.